Kerry Ploughing Association hold AGM in Ballyheigue

The AGM of the Kerry Ploughing Association was held in the Community Centre in Ballyheigue recently with members of all six ploughing societies present – Ardfert, Ballyheigue, Causeway, Ballyduff, Killarney, Abbeydorney.

It was the first main gathering of the county association following the very successful campaign at the National Ploughing Championship recently.

Chairman Thomas Healy congratulated all the members of the Kerry Ploughing Team along with helpers and coaches who competed so successfully at this year’s All Ireland held in Fenagh, Co Carlow last month. He said that it was a great team performance achieving high placing in the various classes over the three days and achieving two firsts, with Derek O’Driscoll in the Junior Conventional Class and Daniel Burke in the Novice Conventional Class.

“This was a wonderful achievement adding to the number of all Ireland titles won by the County to 48 by 27 individuals,” Mr Healy said, congratulating all the supervisors and stewards involved over the three days of the championships. He also thanked Michael and Derek

O’Driscoll for transporting tractors and ploughs to and from the ploughing site in Carlow and Kerry Group for subsidising the cost involved for the transport.

Finally, Mr Healy extended sincere sympathy to the family of the late Tom Barrett who brought honours to the county in 1995 when he won the Special Horse Class in Ballacolla, Co Laois and to the families of the late Sean O’Halloran, Timothy (Ted) Donegan, Cyril Fitzmaurice and Barney Dowling who died recently and to all members who suffered a family bereavement through the year.

The following officers were then elected: President Eamon Flynn; Vice Presidents Phil Healy, Luke Keane, Jimmy Lawlor, Michael P Donegan, James Healy, Tom Boyle; Chairman and NPA Director Thomas Healy; Vice Chairman Michael O’Halloran; Secretary Brendan Blackwell; Treasurer Michael McCarthy; PRO Tom O’Mahony; and Safety Officer Michael Fitzmaurice.

Forthcoming Ploughing Matches are as follows:

Ballyheigue October 20, Ardfert October 27, Ballyduff November 3, Abbeydorney November 10, Killarney November 17, and Causeway November 24 for the Novice Match.