Martin Kehoe Jr, aged 33, is a son of three-time world ploughing champion Martin Kehoe.

He died in an accident on Wednesday on the family farm in Foulksmills Co Wexford.

The entire Kehoe family is well known to the ploughing fraternity around the country. Martin Jr's brother Willie John and sisters Michelle and Eleanor have also won national titles.

As the news of the tragedy circulated at the ploughing championships in Screggan, Tullamore, a deep sadness for the Kehoe family’s loss overshadowed the day's events.

It is the 17th fatality on Irish farms this year.

Farm safety is the focus of many of the exhibits at the Ploughing Championships, and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) are a prominent presence.

Martin Kehoe Jr was married with three young children, and sympathies from everyone at the ploughing were being sent to his family this evening.

Anna May McHugh NPA managing director said: "On behalf of the NPA, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the Kehoe family on the tragic passing of Martin Kehoe Junior.

"The whole of the Ploughing community are thinking of them at this terrible time as the Kehoes are a legendary ploughing family in Ireland."