The National Ploughing Association has announced that the 2021 Ploughing Trade Exhibition and World Contest, due to take place in Co Laois in September, has been cancelled due to uncertainty over Covid-19 restrictions.
This is the second year in a row that the hugely popular Autumn event will not take place. However, the National Ploughing Association said that national ploughing competitions would still go ahead in addition to a number of virtual events and exhibitions.
The NPA cited uncertainty around restrictions and international travel as factors that fed into the decision. NPA managing director Anna May McHugh described the cancellation as a “massive disappointment” and said it represented a €50m loss to the economy. The NPA confirmed that the event would return to Ratheniska, Co Laois in September 2022.