Ploughing Matches

Posted by jparkins (Guelph ON) on 01/20/18 10:54 PM

Im just in the process of planing a trip to Ireland and i want to include a local county ploughing match or two in the itinerary. I know this is far away from the usual tourist questions, but i compete here in Canada in matches and would like to see some when im across the pond. My question is has anyone on this forum been to a local match in Ireland? are the local matches usually a small community crowd or does it bring in a bigger crowd? any insight on this would be great.

I've already found dates of the upcoming matches through the year and in what county they are in.

Posted by inireland

Waterville, Ireland

01/21/18 10:17 PM

409 posts

Don't know if you've stumbled upon The National Ploughing Championships but if so - watch out. It's the largest event in Ireland - no small village craic, there!

It may take a while to research it but I'd say good Ploughing and each County by name; or check Facebook - many small villages use FAcebook pages not website!

Susan
Expat in Waterville, Skellig Coast

Posted by jparkins OP

Guelph ON

01/22/18 12:51 AM

45 posts

Thanks Susan, ill have to search facebook to get a better idea, i never would of thought of that. And yes i have heard about the National Ploughing Championships would love to see it sometime, its usually around the same time as our own national ploughing championship or IPM (international plowing match) as we call it. So im usually busy competing lol but i might have to make an exception sometime :)

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

01/22/18 08:50 AM

33820 posts

Are these ploughing matches using teams of oxen or teams of horses?

Posted by jparkins OP

Guelph ON

01/22/18 08:36 PM

45 posts

The matches at home here in Canada both the big Championship match and the smaller county matches all have teams of horses ploughing including sometimes teams of mules. it funny that you mention oxen because i have not seen any teams ploughing and discussed it with my father that we should raise a team lol. I went to the Worlds ploughing match/British Plowing Championships just outside York in 2016 and there were many teams there as well. Im sure Ireland will have Horse teams hopefully a couple teams at a local county match would be a nice sight as well.

I myself plough in the antique/vintage class. I plough with a 1949 Massey Harris 22 tractor and a Massey Harris plough.