Gowna to host ploughing championships

Gowna will provide the picturesque setting for the 40th anniversary of the Cavan Ploughing Championship this May Bank Holiday Monday.

Samuel Thompson, who is part of the organising committee, happily reports the event has gone from strength to strength in recent years. This is quite the success given that County Cavan is not a traditional tillage county.

“I’ve been part of Cavan Ploughing for over 30 years and I’ve noticed a great resurgence in the event in recent years, with lots of interest from new members. We saw numbers drop as low as 20 a few years ago, but we’re hoping to get up to 70 this year.

“People come from all over to take part, with some coming from as far as Wicklow and Galway. But only people from Cavan can represent the county at a national level.”

One of these is Andrew Tully who enjoyed success on a national level.

“Andrew Tully from Kingscourt won the national three furrow at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois in 2022. This is a great achievement for someone from Cavan, it’s not a county with a lot of tillage in it, so people from here wouldn’t do as much ploughing as in other counties.”

There are a number of criteria upon which competitors are judged, as Samuel explains.

“Participants are judged on having a straight furrow line, as well as the uniformity and tidiness of their plot. It also has to be easy to sow after.”.

He adds that interest has remained strong in the event despite a number of challenges in the last few years.

“In 2022 we had our first event since Covid. It was a much smaller event because when were organising it we didn’t know what restrictions we would be operating under.

“We kept it at a local level and even at that some people didn’t participate because of concerns over Covid. Diesel prices are also a concern, it can cost a lot for a person to drive a big tractor a long distance, plough land for the day and then drive home again.”

With Covid concerns behind us Samuel is looking forward to another enjoyable championships.

“As well as the ploughing, there’s a lot of other things on the day of the championships. Comedian and RTÉ’s ‘Dancing With The Stars’ semi-finalist Kevin McGahern will be there. There’s also music, trade stalls, amusements, food and a dog show. All proceeds from the gate will go to Cavan Palliative Care.

“In the past, we’ve raised up to €7,000 for it. The farming and wider rural community always give generously to events like this, especially when it is for a good cause.”