The National Ploughing Championship 2016

 A Trip to the National Ploughing Championships.
On Wednesday 21st September this year’s TYs with a class of 5th year Ag. Science students headed off to Screggan, Tullamore. The two and a half hour trek up would normally have been enough to tire us out but not so on that Wednesday! The hype on the bus for those two and a half hours was incredible.
On our arrival in Screggan, wellies were whipped out of bags and even one or two flat caps appeared helping us all get into the “Farming spirit”. With the donning of rain jackets, we all filed off the buses and squelching, we made our way to Gate 1, marked by a giant purple balloon in the sky. Where we were all handed tickets and, with instructions on where and when to meet up, we all set off in our different directions.
Most stalls were discovered by the Coláiste Bríde bunch that day and no free goodies were declined!! Many stalls handed out free pens or wristbands but some, like the giant Aldi tent, offered free samples of some of their leading brands.
On our travels around the Ploughing championships massive site, many of us came across the Jack and Jill Foundation’s tent. A charity close to many of our hearts, since speaking with Jonathan Irwin in our school. Some dropped in with and even tried their hand at a golfing competition set up inside the stall! The prize being a washing machine!
After sampling much of the food on offer and covering most of the 600 acre site. We all trudged back towards the great purple balloon in the sky that marked our exit. Soaked and exhausted we climbed onto the bus and made the journey home.
 
By Lily Mahon 4A