Kavanagh ploughing on

THE National Ploughing Championships wouldn’t be the same without Richie Kavanagh, and he’ll be performing each day in The Bridge House marquee.

Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011, Richie says it hasn’t stopped him pursuing his career as a songwriter, singer and performer.

His showbiz career, Richie says, has kept him fully engaged with life and people. “I love it,” the Carlow icon tells me. “And I always enjoy meeting people at the Ploughing. It’s great craic.”

Richie, who has worked at numerous jobs throughout his life, including stints as a chef, truck driver and postman, got his big break in 1995 when the late Gerry Ryan began playing his single, ‘Aon Focal Eile’, on his 2fm radio show.

“The song went wild after Gerry started playing it,” Richie remembers. “It was number one in the Irish charts for seven weeks, and remained in the charts for 28 weeks.”