This year’s National Ploughing Championships is set to be the biggest to date. A record number of exhibitors for this time of year have booked for the event, to be staged in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, from 20 to 22 September.

This despite the fact that prices for exhibitors have increased by 10% this year. Some have grumbled about the increase, but the NPA’s Anna Marie McHugh points out: “The country has struggled through tough economic times, and we have held our prices for the last decade in solidarity with our exhibitors. The cost of staging the event has risen from €2.5m to €4.5m in that time. Attendance has increased year on year, with the footfall almost doubling.”

In 2005, the attendance at Mogeely, Co Cork, was 179,000, setting a record. Last year, the total three-day attendance was a staggering 281,000.

McHugh points out that the increased scale means a step up in the resources committed to staging the event.

“The running costs have increased as prices for services rise in our recovering economy.

“Extra resources are required – we have almost doubled the amount of trackway in the trade field in only three years,” she says.

There will be no increase for those attending this year’s Ploughing – €20 adults, €15 students/seniors, and children are free, with discounts for groups.