Ready for the off at Galway Ploughing in Lisheenavalla

IT’S the sign of the changing seasons . . . the staging of the Co. Galway Ploughing Championships that takes place this weekend in the townland of Lisheenavalla, located on the edge of the Turloughmore and Claregalway parishes.

The event takes place at Mountain Road on Sunday (March 18) starting at 12 noon and continuing through the afternoon covering a range of different classes.

With generally dry weather predicted for the weekend, ground conditions are expected to be quite good, although the word from Met Éireann is to wrap-up well for the coming days.

The history of horse ploughing competitions in Galway goes back to the 1930 while competitive ploughing in the tractor events began in the early 1960s.

Competitors on Sunday taking part in a wide range of categories will be vying for a place in the National Ploughing Finals taking place next September in Screggan near Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

Last year at Screggan, there were notable performances from a number of Galway competitors including Joe Kelly, Monivea in the vintage section; Gerry Reilly, Claregalway (senior horse plough); Michael Buckley, Monivea (novice) and Maura Canning, Mullagh (farmerette).

Incidentally, Michael Buckley, is a son of Irish country music star, Jimmy Buckley, and this year he will be ‘stepping up’ in the categories as he looks at another ‘go’ at Screggan.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.