RTÉ LifeStyle caught up with CountryWide's Damien O'Reilly to find out where the National Ploughing Championship 2017 will be taking place.
"We're going back to Screggan in Tullamore for the National Championships, it's come as no real surprise that the NPA (National Ploughing Association) have decided to go back to the same site. This has become a trend in the last ten years or so where, when they go to a site, they will stay for two or three years if everything is successful."
Damien went on to say that this year's National Ploughing Championship was a huge success. A number of factors contributed to the festivities such as traffic, landowners, and the Gardai. Damien says that everyone was very happy with how everything went.
"It's a very central location and, I think also, the hospitality that everybody received in Tullamore was second to none so everything added up to it going back there next year."
Listen to Damien O'Reilly discuss plans for Ploughing 2017 here:
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So, if everything worked so well, why not have the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan every year? Damien says it's down to the novelty factor and the landowners.
"You've got to move it around to keep refreshing it because you're depending on the same people each year, working on a voluntary capacity. You're depending on local people and local schools rowing in behind you."
Listen to Damien O'Reilly discuss why the National Ploughing Championship moves here:
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