Organisers of the National Ploughing Championships (NPA) have announced next year's event will be held in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
Anna May McHugh, managing director of the NPA, said the new farmland Ploughing site of about 600 acres would be in Screggan.
The event will run from September 20th to 22nd, 2016.
The championships have been held at Ratheniska in Co Laois for the past three years, with another record-breaking attendance this year - a total entry of 281,000. This is up 1,500 from last year.
Best wellies
Thousands of people from rural and urban communities donned their best wellies and flat hats to make it to the farming event of the year.
The second day of the championship was the biggest, attracting a crowd of 127,000.
More than 75,000 attended opening day, when President Michael D Higgins officially launched the event, and 76,500 on the final day.
Ms McHugh said she was delighted this year’s even went smoothly, with no injuries or major issues she had heard of.
“I’m very happy, because you put so much effort into it. The atmosphere was great. It was electric here this year,” she said.
“It’s huge to organise. Right down to the kettles, teapots - everything.”
High standards
Ms McHugh said organising the event was a big responsibility, and high standards had to be maintained.
“We are very particular, about young people in particular. If they come under the influence of alcohol, the buses are turned back. And we had three buses that were turned back because of that,” she said.
Ms McHugh, who has been involved in the championships since 1948, said she estimated it cost about €5 million to hold the event.
She said she would miss Ratheniska, but looked forward to “lifting the bar” even more on the event next year.
“I hate leaving, because it’s my own county. Ratheniska has been great. On the other hand, farmers have to get back into a routine way of life,” she said.
“I wouldn’t like it getting any bigger. We’ll improve on what we have. When it is this size it is you can manage it. When it gets bigger it can get out of hand.”
Passion for organising
Ms McHugh said she had a passion for organising from a young age and she looked forward to the challenge every year.
“It does take over your life, but I love it,” she said.
“Every year is a challenge. You try and do better than the year before. We’ve started planning already for next year.”
Her daughter, Anna Maria McHugh, said 2015 marked the most successful championships in history.
“The three days ran very smoothly and the feedback from early on, via social media, has been extremely positive,” she said.
“Traffic to and from the site has been moving well all week and credit is due to An Garda Síochána in no small part and the traffic management plan in place.”
