The biggest event in the Irish farming calendar kicks off today in County Laois. The National Ploughing Championships expects to see up to 300,000 people flock to Ratheniska over the next three days.
The event will include machinery exhibitions, trade fairs, technology demonstrations, and more for visitors to enjoy. Over 350 competitors from Ireland and across Europe will also take part in a variety of ploughing contests.
President of the Irish Farmers' Association, Francie Gorman says it's a major event for rural Ireland: "Even from a social point of view, it allows farmers at the end of a very busy year and before we get into the winter period, to wind down and get out and meet each other and chat through the main events of the day," he said, "And, for the Irish Farmers Association it's a huge opportunity to meet people coming ointo our stanbd even just to have light refreshments and talk about issues on their own farm and, as I said, the big issues of the day."
