Presidential candidates among thousands at Ploughing Championships

Presidential candidates were among the thousands of people who headed to the Ploughing Championships in Co Offaly on Tuesday to celebrate farming and rural life.

Up to a quarter of a million people are expected to attend the extensive farmlands in Screggan, Tullamore, to marvel at an estimated 1,400 stalls.

Farm machinery, welly throwing, tattooing at a gas supplier’s tent and a charity shaving event are among the showcases that will take place over the three days.

Irish President Michael D Higgins formally opened the event on Tuesday, in one of his last major public appearances before his term ends in November.

He told the crowd: “Since I was inaugurated mar Uachtaran na hEireann, Sabina and I have attended these championships almost every year and we are always struck not just by the sheer scale of the gathering, but by the enthusiasm and the support that is revealed for every aspect of Irish rural life.

“This festival is in itself a testament to the vibrancy and the organisational talent in Ireland’s farming community, and I would like to thank all the farmers involved for their generosity and community effort in facilitating the provision of a site for all that happens.”

The Ploughing Championships have become a political focus point, and are held the same week that the Dail parliament returns after the summer recess.

Budget measures, the cost of living and Gaza dominated the questions put to politicians, along with the presidential election on October 24.

A number of leading presidential candidates attended the first day of the ploughing on Tuesday.

Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin said it was his first time attending the ploughing in 25 years, while Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys said the event was “a showcase of everything good about this country”.

Independent candidate Catherine Connolly said she was attending the Ploughing Championships for the first time, but added it was her fourth agricultural show of the year.

The presidential race ploughed on outside of Tullamore also, as independent hopeful Gareth Sheridan secured a nomination from Tipperary County Council.

Along with the backing of Kerry County Council, it puts the millionaire entrepreneur halfway to securing a total of four nods from local authorities that are necessary to be considered formally nominated.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris and new Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly also attended the Ploughing Championships on Tuesday.

Mr Harris was confronted by pro-Palestine protesters who called on him and his government to “end the genocide”.