Willie's dream to see ploughing championships come to Westmeath

With the Fleadh Cheoil behind us – but a wealth of organisational talent now in place – Willie Penrose says he would love to see Westmeath win the honour of hosting the National Ploughing Championships in the future.

“Westmeath is about agriculture: there’s great agricultural land around everywhere,” he said. “If we could get a number of farmers to come together, I’m sure we could do it.

“I appreciate there are obstacles, but if you have the will, there’s always the way. I would love to do it – but you can’t have any equivocation from business people.”

NPA assistant managing director Anna Marie McHugh told the Westmeath Examiner this week that if Westmeath is interested in becoming a host county, a first step would be to identify possible sites that could host the ploughing.

“Local ploughing members would have a good idea if a venue was suitable,” said Anna Marie, suggesting that locals consult with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) director in Westmeath, PJ Lynam, or another member of Westmeath Ploughing to view sites before taking the proposal to the NPA.

Pointing out that the event attracts 300,000 visitors, Anna Marie said that sites that the NPA would consider would need to be of approximately 800 acres.

“The first priority is suitable ground for the exhibition trade arena and ploughing plots – the trade arena must be accessible by good roads on at least two sides – ideally all four sides – with car parking on all sides,” says Anna Marie.

Normally, the NPA would have locations decided at least 12-18 months ahead of time, and Anna Marie confirmed that they rely to an extent on local voluntary effort:

“The NPA appreciate and award the local clubs who volunteer their services, for example to steward each of the car parking fields, do catalogue sales or volunteer to chair various aspects of the organising committee.”