Causeway ploughs its way to national championships

A GREAT crowd turned out in Causeway to welcome Kerry’s 26th and 27th All-Ireland ploughing champions on Friday evening, as home boys Michael P Donnegan and Colm Dineen came back to their parish as All-Ireland champions – though there was much appreciation for Kerry’s entire team of 16 men and one woman, and rightly so.

Michael took victory in the Junior Conventional Class while Colm took the ‘Three-furrow’ title. There was further success for Causeway as Michael J Donnegan took a podium place in the under-28 Conventional Class, but it wasn’t all about Causeway, as Ballyheigue’s Michael O’Halloran was also amongst the prize-winners, finishing second in the Intermediate Reversible Class.

“Michael and Colm paraded with their tractors and ploughs from the churchyard car-park to the centre of the village, and they had their winning jerseys and all on them,” Kerry Ploughing Association PRO Tom O’Mahony told The Kerryman.

“They got a great crowd and there was a great community spirit there to welcome the home after a very successful championship for Kerry. There were speeches and presentations on a lorry in a car-park in the village, and Kerry Ploughing Association Chairman and National Ploughing Association Director Thomas Healy congratulated all 17 Kerry competitors on an excellent overall performance this year, as Kerry made it 45 wins overall since the championships were founded.”

The Causeway double brought the parish’s All-Ireland total to an impressive six, dating back to 1955 and 1956 ‘Queen of the Plough’ Anna May Donnegan. Ger Burke won an All-Ireland in 1985 but Causeway had been without an All-Ireland since Tom Barrett’s win in 1995.

“Kerry Ploughing Vice-chairman Michael O’Halloran made presentations on behalf of the Kerry Ploughing Association, and the Causeway Ploughing Association made presentations as well to mark their great performance.” Tom said.

“The chairman also thanked all our sponsors, from Kerry Group, who see to transporting all our gear, to the sponsors of the ploughing societies around Kerry.

“Without them, none of this would be possible!”

Michael P Donnegan, Ballinglanna,Causeway arrived home last Friday to be greeted by family and friends. FROM LEFT: Conor and Dan Donnegan,Tom Boyle, Michael Donnegan, Patrick Boyle,Tommy Murphy,Richard Egan and John Martin Carroll.