Dust off your wellies and anoraks, the National Ploughing Championship is set to return to Co. Laois next week - and RTÉ will be there every step of the way.
Taking place in Ratheniska from September 19-21, the 2023 Ploughing will feature live radio broadcasts across RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and RTÉ 2FM, live RTÉ Weather broadcasts on RTÉ One and live RTÉ News, including the Six One news programme on Tuesday September 19.
There will also be a Nationwide Special on Wednesday and special guest experiences featuring viewer favourites, Ireland’s Fittest Family and Dancing With The Stars.
DAY ONE: Tuesday September 19
On RTÉ Radio 1
- Morning Ireland, live from 7am - 9am
- The Louise Duffy Show*, live from 12pm - 1pm
- The Ray D’Arcy Show, live from 3pm - 4.30pm
*Louise Duffy has invited RTÉ Radio 1 listeners to get in touch if they are headed to The Ploughing on Tuesday 19 and would like to introduce their favourite song on the show.
On RTÉ ONE
- Sharon Tobin will present Six One news live from The Ploughing.
- Ireland’s Fittest Family: Back Against The Wall challenge, at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
Ireland's Fittest Family fans will have the opportunity to take part in the Back Against The Wall challenge across the three days at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
Paul O’Donovan, who viewers will recognise from the programme as the challenge referee, will be there to ensure it’s a fun and fair competition.
Anyone who would like to take part in the challenge needs to register their interest at the RTÉ area (Block 1, Row 16, Stand 275) ahead of the scheduled challenge times.
DAY TWO: Wednesday September 20
On RTÉ 2FM
- Drive It with The 2 Johnnies, live from 3pm - 6pm
- Ireland's Fittest Family: Back Against The Wall challenge, at 11am, 1pm and 3pm
- Nationwide on RTÉ ONE at 7pm
The Nationwide team will be at the Championships to meet some of the many thousands of visitors to this year's event in Ratheniska.
Bláthnaid learns how to plough a straight furrow and Anne meets some of the many founders of small rural enterprises who will have their produce on display in the enterprise zones.
The future of farming depends on the younger generation but just under 7% of all farmers are under the age of 35, reporter Mary Fanning meets young farmers to find out about the future of Farming in Ireland.
DAY THREE: Thursday September 21
On RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
- Bladhaire, live from 3pm - 5pm
- Ireland’s Fittest Family: Back Against The Wall challenge, at 11am, 1pm and 3pm
- Dancing With The Stars: Meet two of the show’s popular dance professionals, Karen Byrne and Denys Samson from 12pm.
Dancing With The Stars will return to RTÉ One and RTÉ Player in January 2024 and visitors to the RTÉ set at The Ploughing will have the opportunity to meet two of the show's popular dance professionals, Karen Byrne and Denys Samson on Thursday September 21 at 12pm.
The judges score paddles will be there so attendees can rate themselves for a selfie too!
RTÉ Weather live
RTÉ Weather favourites Nuala Carey, Trevor Keegan Audrey McGrath will be among the weather presenters coming live from Ploughing 2023 four times a day.
For more RTÉ at The Ploughing updates, keep an eye on RTE’s social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X [Twitter]).
