Bad weather marred ploughing festival

October 1981

Gale force winds and heavy rain marred the World Ploughing Championships held at Wellingtonbridge last week.

Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused as exhibitions were blown over, platforms collapsed, and tents crumbled in.

The dreadful weather was the one thing the organisers didn’t want. Everything they could control had been prepared to perfection, but they had no control over the elements.

Continuous rain meant that underfoot conditions got steadily worse as the ploughing progressed, although conditions were never as bad as at the same venue in 1973.

Up to 70,000 people are thought to have visited the Rosegarland site from Wednesday to Saturday, and for many, the main task was to stay on their feet and remain as dry as they could – but it was an uphill struggle.

With national and world ploughing as well as trade stands and exhibitions, visitors had plenty to occupy themselves. But the recession in farming appears to be biting, and while the interest in trade stands was considerable, sales and orders were not as good as expected.

Interest in the actual ploughing was intense, and people braved gusts of up to 90 mph to see Ireland’s and the world’s top ploughmen go through their paces. On Wednesday and Thursday, people were ferried between the ploughing sites by tractor and trailer, but that had to be stopped for Friday and Saturday as the ground was too bad for the vehicles so people had to wade through the mud instead.

But it was all worth it for one Wexford man, who ensured the county will have a representative on the Irish team again next year when the world event takes place in the much further afield venue of Tasmania, Australia. The new Irish champion is Martin Kehoe, who had a single solitary point to spare over his nearest rival.

Wexford’s other winner in the championships was Jonathan Kehoe, who triumped in the under-21 category.