Milltownpass man qualifies for All Ireland potato championship

Pat Maguire of Milltownpass is no stranger to the Mullingar Show. A long-time competitor in horticulture classes over the years, Pat has become something of a familiar face on the Irish show circuit.

This year, his dedication has paid off as he has qualified for the prestigious All-Ireland potato championship final, set to take place later this summer.

His homegrown spuds, carefully cultivated and presented to the highest standard, will next be on display at the Tullamore Show, where Pat will compete for a national title among the best growers in the country. Pat called into the Westmeath Examiner office last week to proudly show off his prized potatoes and to reflect on a memorable day at the Mullingar Show.

“I go to shows all over Ireland,” he said. “It’s a kind of bug I caught many years ago and it’s a great day out," he said. Reflecting on the level of competition, he added: “Everything’s hard to win. It’s tough to even qualify for Tullamore. The standard is very high, all top-quality produce is on display. I was lucky enough to have one that made the cut," he concluded.

With a great passion for horticulture, Pat will be flying the Westmeath flag high in Tullamore with the hopes for glory later this summer.