THE improvement in weather conditions over the past fortnight, precipitating the drying out of land, has been a godsend for the Clare Ploughing Association as they prepare to host their annual championships.
The championships return to Ralahine in Newmarket next Sunday and will be held on the lands of John Lyons from Saoirse in Sixmilebridge, who happens to be one of the joint presidents of the Clare Ploughing Association.
Ploughing commences at 12 noon and coinciding with the championships, of which there are seven classes, will be a display of vintage farm machinery.
Titles will be decided in senior open, U-28, U-21, vintage, horse, reversible ploughing and juvenile categories.
At the association’s recent annual general meeting, Meelick’s Johnny White, a great exponent in the art of ploughing, was elected chairman.
The vice-chairmen are Mike Browne (Cratloe) and Gerard Hannon (Kildysart).
Four vice president were selected – Louie Quinn (Newmarket), John Lyons (Sixmilebridge), Terry Higgins (Parteen) and Sean Collins (Sixmilebridge).
Paul Browne, a son of vice-chairman Mike, was appointed secretary. His assistant is Walter Moroney of O’Callaghan’s Mills. Treasurer is Gerard Frost from Kilkishen and assistant treasurer is Barry Donnellan from Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge. Handling public relations is Paddy Quinn of Lemenaghbeg, Newmarket, a son of joint president, Louie Quinn. NPA director is John Joe Donnellan of Kilmurry.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.