1. Farmer and massage therapist Patrick Kelly of Castletown, Co. Laois attempts to set a Guinness World Record by backing his 60-year-old Massey Ferguson tractor for 50 miles. The current world record is 44.4 km, set in Modasa, India in 2008. Patrick hopes to raise money for cancer research in memory of his mother, Mai Kelly, who sadly passed away from cancer.
.The Portwest All Ireland Welly Throwing Competition is in full swing, with money going to charity Teac Tom – which provides mental health support and suicide intervention to those in need.
Cork’s Pelim Cotter competes in the 2 furrow vintage class on the second day of the National Team Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Photo: Mark Condren 21.9.2022
Bringing livestock for the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association faces a wash on the second day of the National Plowing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Pic:Mark Condren 21.9.2022
Bringing livestock for the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association faces a wash on the second day of the National Plowing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Pic:Mark Condren 21.9.2022
Have fun on the second day of the National Team Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Photo: Mark Condren 21.9.2022
Adam Kearney (11) from Co. Clare at his first Plow Championships and Pat Cahill (90) from Cavan at his 27th Plow Championships preparing cattle for the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association stand on the second day of the National Plowing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Photo: Mark Condren 21.9 .2022
Competitors doing a round on the national team grounds compete in the World Plowing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Photo: Mark Condren 21.9.2022
Keeping the public informed about the second day of the National Team Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Photo: Mark Condren 21.9.2022
Dublin’s Eamonn White competes in the 2 furrow vintage class on the second day of the National Team Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Photo: Mark Condren 21.9.2022
Eoin Lynch from Bantry in Cork hangs his rosettes on the second day of the National Team Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Photo: Mark Condren 21.9.2022
Adam Kearney (11) from Co.Clare at his first Livestock Plowing Championships at the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association stand on day two of the National Plowing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Photo: Mark Condren 21.9.2022
Taoiseach Micheál Martin on a walk on the second day of the National Team Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, Photo: Mark Condren 21.9.2022
3. Every time the World Team Championships come to Ireland, a cairn stone monument is left in the area as a memorial. The 2022 cairn was created from a 330 million year old Kilkenny blue limestone quarry from McKeon’s Quarry in Threecastles, Co Kilkenny. The cairn will remain on Ratheniska’s grounds for the remainder of the Championships, before being moved to a permanent location.
4. The Irish Architecture Foundation is at the Plowing this year to address the importance of preserving the heritage of working-class villages built in the 1950s to provide housing for workers in the peat industry. An exhibition delves into the social history of the villages and helps people get an idea of what life was like in the villages.
5. Most people come to the Plows hungry – with 40,000 breakfasts sold, 16 tons of beef eaten, 19,000 eggs, five tons of cheese and 14 acres of potatoes sewn to supply the event. A quarter pounder of burger was sold every second and a chicken breast every 10 seconds.