Kerry Ploughing team in hunt for national titles at national c’ships

POSITIVITY abounds in Kerry this week in the lead up to the National Championships as 17 hopefuls head to Tullamore, bidding to bring home glory for their county.

The Championships will take place over a three day period from September 18 to September 20 and Tom O’Mahony, PRO for the Kerry Ploughing Association (KPA) said that the group are putting their final touches to preparations for the event.

“Everyone is doing their own final few bits and pieces themselves now and we’re approaching it with positivity. We have a good mixture of youth and experience on our team so we are excited,” said Tom, speaking on Monday.

Amongst the 17 hopefuls heading up to Offaly, there are 11 National Titles between them and they are hoping to add to Kerry’s already hugely impressive tally of 45 titles since 1941 and which are spread amongst 27 individuals.

According to Tom, the National Ploughing Championships is one of the biggest outdoor events in all of Europe and one which the entire team is excited to attend this year.

Amongst these competitors is Ballyheigue’s Michael O’Halloran who has been picked by Ireland to represent the country in the ‘Five Nations Ploughing competition. This includes Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“That competition will be on September 28 and September 29 in Eglinton so we want to wish him well over the next few weeks,” said Tom

“Every year is different and every plot is different. You could be lucky and you could get a lovely plot of ground or you could be unlucky and you could get an uneven and stoney plot. You just never know. Hopefully we can add a couple more titles to Kerry,” he continued.

The group will compete in over 15 classes over the three days; the group features 16 males and one female from all over Kerry including Ballyheigue, Causeway, Ballyduff, Killarney, Tralee, Castleisland and Moyvane.

Tom said that their attendance at this years event would not have been possible without the support of the Association’s sponsor, Kerry Group.

Officers and members of the Kerry Ploughing Association (KPA) pictured in McElligots Bar in Abbeydorney last week as they prepare to compete in the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore in Offaly. (Front from left) Michael McCarthy (Treasurer of KPA), Brendan Blackwell (Secretary of KPA), Michael O’Halloran (Vice Chairman of KPA), Thomas Healy (President of KPA), Tom O’Mahony (PRO) and MIchael Fitzmaurice (Safety Officer of KPA). (Middle from left) Michael P Donegan, Michael Brosnan, Aeneas Horan, Kevin Keane, Derek O’Driscoll, Colm Dineen, Philip Healy and Tommy McCarthy. (Back from left) Patrick Boyle, Shane Godley, Dónal Tydings, Michael J Donegan, Pa Lucid and Thomas O’Carroll.