This article is a list of venues for the National Ploughing Championships, an agricultural fair held annually in the Republic of Ireland since 1931.
YearPhotoLocationStart dateEnd dateAttendanceNotes 1931 Coursetown, Athy, County Kildare 16 February 1932 Gorey, County Wexford 19 February 1933 Clondalkin, County Dublin 15 February 1934 Athenry, County Galway 13 February 1935 Mallow, County Cork 13 February 1936 Tullamore, County Offaly February 1937 Greystones, County Wicklow 9 February 1938 Oakpark, Carlow 10 February 1939 Killarney, County Kerry 8 February 1940 Thurles, County Tipperary/Kilkenny 21 January 1 February 1941 Cork / Navan, County Meath 12 February 18 February 1942 Cloghran, County Dublin 12 February 1943 Lamberton, Portlaoise, County Laois 12 February 1944 Ballinasloe, County Galway 9 February 1945 County Tipperary 21 February 1946 Balbriggan, County Dublin 7 February 1947 Maynooth, County Kildare 11 February 1948 County Limerick 19 February 1949 Drogheda, County Louth 10 February 1950 Bandon, County Cork 9 February 1951 County Wexford 1 February 1952 Athenry, County Galway 7 February 1953 Mullingar, County Westmeath 11 February 1954 Cahir, County Tipperary 11 February 1955 Athy, County Kildare 10 February 11 February 1956 Nenagh, County Tipperary 1 February 11 February 1957 Boyle, County Roscommon 7 February 8 February 1958 Tramore, County Waterford 12 February 13 February 1959 Burnchurch, County Kilkenny 28 January 29 January 1960 New Ross, County Wexford 9 November 10 November 1961 Killarney, County Kerry 8 November 9 November 1962 Dovea, Thurles, County Tipperary 7 November 8 November 1963 Athenry, County Galway 6 November 7 November 1964 Danesfort, County Kilkenny 18 November 19 November 1965 Enniskerry, County Wicklow 17 November 18 November 1966 Rosegarland Est., Wellingtonbridge, County Wexford 2 November 3 November 1967 Tullow, County Carlow 25 October 26 October 1968 Banteer, Mallow, County Cork 23 October 24 October 1969 Rockwell College, Cashel, County Tipperary 22 October 23 October 1970 Danesfort, County Kilkenny 28 October 29 October 1971 Finglas, County Dublin 27 October 28 October 1972 Rockwell College, Cashel, County Tipperary 25 October 26 October 1973 Rosegarland Estate, Wellingtonbridge, County Wexford 3 October 6 October 1974 Watergrasshill, County Cork 16 October 17 October 1975 Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny 15 October 16 October 1976 Wells, Gorey, County Wexford 13 October 14 October 1977 Rockwell College, Cashel, County Tipperary 19 October 20 October 1978 Knocktopher, County Kilkenny 11 October 12 October 1979 Watergrasshill, County Cork 10 October 11 October 1980 Rockwell College, Cashel, County Tipperary 7 October 8 October 1981 Wellingtonbridge, Wexford 7 October 10 October 1982 Edenderry, County Offaly 12 October 13 October 1983 IDA Grounds, County Waterford 5 October 6 October 1984 Ardfert, County Kerry 3 October 4 October 1985 Kilkea, Athy, County Kildare 2 October 3 October 1986 Woodsgift Hse., Woodsgift, County Kilkenny 8 October 9 October 1987 Charleville Estate, Tullamore, County Offaly 7 October 8 October 1988Oak Park Research Centre, County Carlow 4 October 6 October 1989 October 1990 October 1991 Crecora, County Limerick 1992 Carrigtwohill, County Cork 1993Shanballyard, Clerihan, Clonmel, County Tipperary28 September30 SeptemberFamously remembered as "The Wet Year" due to heavy rain turned the fields and car parks into mud 1994 Drumgold, Enniscorthy, County Wexford 1995 Ballacolla, County Laois 1996Oak Park Research Centre, County Carlow 1997 Parkmore, Fiveally, Birr, County Offaly 1998 Ballycarney, Ferns, County Wexford 1999 Castletownroche, County Cork28 September30 September2000Ballacolla, County Laois26 September28 September20012 October4 OctoberEvent cancelled due to Foot and Mouth outbreak200224 September26 September2003Ballinabrackey, County Meath (5 km south of Kinnegad)23 September25 September2004Athy, County Kildare2005Mogeely, County Cork27 September 200529 September 20052006Grangeford, Tullow, County Carlow27 September28 SeptemberAlso hosted World Ploughing Championships 29–30 September2007Annaharvey FarmTullamore, County Offaly25 September27 September2008Burnchurch, County Kilkenny (8 km southwest of Kilkenny City) 23 September 25 September2009Cardenton, Athy, County Kildare22 September29 September201021 September23 September201120 September22 September2012Heathpark, New Ross, County Wexford25 September27 September2013Ratheniska, County Laois24 September26 September228,00070th Anniversary since the ploughing was first held in Laois.201423 September25 September280,000201522 September24 September281,000All-time record for one day was set on the 23rd of 127,0002016Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly20 September22 September283,000201719 September21 September291,500201818 September21 SeptemberDay 1: 97,500 Day 2:cancelled Day 3: 81,500 Day 4: 61,700 Total: 240,700Show cancelled on 19 September due to Storm Ali; an additional day was added on 21 September to compensate.2019 Ballintrane, Fenagh, County Carlow17 September19 SeptemberDay 1: 102,500 Day 2: 113,500 Day 3: 81,000 Total: 297,000Total attendance figures for the 88th Championships came to a record breaking 297,000 visitors over the 3 days2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic The event was cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland. A limited number of ploughing competitions were planned for October, but without spectators.2021Ratheniska, County Laois15 September17 September Day 1: <1,000 Day 2: <1,000 Day 3: <1,000 Total: <3,000 A limit of 1,000 attendees per day was in place due to continued COVID-19 related restrictions.202220 September22 SeptemberDay 1: 91,500 Day 2: 115,500 Day 3: 70,000 Total: 277,000Day 2 of the 91st Ploughing Championships saw a record daily number of attendees, this was 115,000 people. This was also the World Ploughing Championships.202319 September21 SeptemberDay 1: 66,250 Day 2: 71,800 Day 3: 62,500 Total: 200,550Macra na Feirme organised a successful world record attempt to throw the most wellies simultaneously.202417 September19 SeptemberDay 1: 75,500 Day 2: 90,500 Day 3: 78,000 Total: 244,0002025Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly16 September18 SeptemberDay 1: 78,500 Day 2: 85,000 Day 3: 62,000 Total: 225,500202615 September17 SeptemberDay 1: 77,000 Day 2: 91,000 Day 3: 75,000 Total: 243,0002027Rathangan, County Kildare21 September23 September
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