Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Scoring all over the field: Irish ploughing experts share their tricks of the trade

350 competitors made the trek to Offaly this week. Why do they return each year?

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

THE NATIONAL PLOUGHING Championships is about a lot more than just ploughing these days. Once again, hundreds of thousands of people made the journey to the sprawling site in Co Offaly this week – to check out new inventions, to attend cooking demos, or even just to catch up with old friends.

But the competitive ploughing remains a major draw too – over 350 competitors showcased their skills at Screggan to either defend their title or to challenge a long-standing champion.

What keeps them coming back each September? “It’s lovely to have the horses working and it’s lovely to go out into a field on a day working your horses,” Kerry’s Moss Trant told us.

“I know it is not an efficient way anymore unfortunately … but animals are great and kind things to work with you know? And we have great respect for our animals.”

- Video by Andrew Roberts 

Watch: ‘A completely different beast’: A Met Éireann forecaster on how hurricanes can impact Irish weather >

Watch: The epic story of the Vikings in Ireland – as depicted on a 23-metre chainsaw-carved tree >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joan Featherstone
    Favourite Joan Featherstone
    Report
    Aug 26th 2020, 1:26 PM

    Seriously, if you don’t know the symptoms and what to do around a suspected Covid case at this stage, you must be living on another planet!!

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niamh Hayes
    Favourite Niamh Hayes
    Report
    Aug 27th 2020, 11:03 AM

    @Joan Featherstone: or you are Phil Hogan

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sarah Cullen
    Favourite Sarah Cullen
    Report
    Aug 28th 2020, 2:12 PM

    @Joan Featherstone: while on one hand I agree with you. I think the grey area will be the other routine ailments which they appear to be trying to give guidance on. What happens when an asthmatic child coughs throu the winter….

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Saphina Twohig
    Favourite Saphina Twohig
    Report
    Aug 26th 2020, 12:08 PM

    Parents need to know CDC lists runny noses and sneezing as covid symptoms in children.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Domhnall O'Sullivan
    Favourite Domhnall O'Sullivan
    Report
    Aug 26th 2020, 11:58 AM

    agreed. This Covid 19 is some trailblazer of a virus when it comes to re-writing the rule book on viruses isnt it?? Theyve thrown everything out the window with this one.

    we cant assume its seasonal even though it sure as hell looks like it…

    we cant assume healthy kids dont transfer it even though the evidence with previous viruses is really strong again.

    we cant assume symptomatic people are the ones to isolate even though thats been the way for centuries. we have evolved to show symptoms when sick, its our way of surviving as a race. but now thats gone!

    we cant assume that masks are only considered of use when worn by the symptomatic – which was the established thinking up until about June 2020.

    I mean WOW! either this virus is really re-writing the rulebook or we are seriously over thinking things around here. !!

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lorraine Mac Rory
    Favourite Lorraine Mac Rory
    Report
    Aug 26th 2020, 8:30 PM

    @Domhnall O’Sullivan: or maybe it’s EXACTLY like every other coronavirus and spreads itself quite happily through our population in spite of whatever precautions you think we’ve been taking “for centuries” except it causes a worse illness. And what on earth makes you think WE evolved to show symptoms for our benefit? Viruses evolved to cause symptoms in order to spread. Virus success as a species is a fine line between enough “symptoms” to spread but not enough to kill the host before this spread has happened. This is a new virus. the balance hasn’t stabilised yet.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Domhnall O'Sullivan
    Favourite Domhnall O'Sullivan
    Report
    Aug 27th 2020, 7:56 AM

    @Lorraine Mac Rory:
    hi. yes. am all for precautions too. no problem.
    and yes. symptoms cause spread i agree. thats my point too !

    1
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Mulhern
    Favourite Philip Mulhern
    Report
    Aug 27th 2020, 9:16 AM

    @Lorraine Mac Rory: Eh, viruses are not a species since they are not alive. And that pesky fact prevents transmission, according to a doctor.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Humphreys
    Favourite Tony Humphreys
    Report
    Aug 26th 2020, 1:49 PM

    Keep quiet, you could lose your income, have your liberty removed and placed under house arrest.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Aug 27th 2020, 6:26 PM

    I’m not a parent, but the links for test centres don’t work for me. Does anyone know how people can get to test centres without a car?

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds