Visitors enjoy the lovely sunshine on the first day of the 2024 team championships

Despite the fine weather, it is not all sunshine and roses for the rural population. The Irish Examiner’s Rural Ireland Thinks survey shows that the cost of living is still a major problem.

In fact, the cost of living and inflation are the biggest concerns for rural residents. They bring these concerns to the attention of politicians who, with elections approaching, are at the forefront of the ‘ploughing’.

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said the poll that worries Fianna Fáil the most is the next general election, when the public will give its final verdict. According to an Irish Examiner poll in rural Ireland, the party is on 22%, with overall support for Fine Gael on 27% and Sinn Féin on 18%.

“If we want to look at the polls, I would point to the local elections where Fianna Fáil emerged as the largest party in local government and even doubled our seats in the European Parliament,” McConalogue said.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, meanwhile, said the “big conversation seems to be about sustainability and succession on farms, preparing for the next generation”.

She said there is a “real fear that farming is not viable or attractive to young people”.

Away from politics, Anna May McHugh, director of the National Ploughing Association, praised the event as a “national showcase for all things farming” and bringing together “people from all sectors of Irish society, both rural and urban, to enjoy three days of rural life”.

In the team competitions, the European Vintage Team Championships are also held on Tuesday and Wednesday. These competitions attract participants and their followers from Great Britain, Belgium and Germany.

The strong programme attracted competitors from across the country, pushing the number of participants preparing to plough in Co Laois to over 300 across the three days.

One team in the field this week consisted of friends from Co Kildare, Stephen Byrne, David Gorey and Donal Fitzpatrick.

While Mr Gorey was competing in the under-40 team class on Tuesday, Mr Byrne echoed the sentiments of many competitors: “We all love horses, that’s how we’re involved, it’s the love of the horses that we’re all here for today.”

He added: “We have a passion for this. We took it up as a hobby and we’ve grown to love it more and more!”

Although they have “been working with horses all our lives”, this is only their second year competing in ploughing events – and Mr Byrne describes it as “therapy”.

Working with horses helps the men clear their heads, he added.

Early start for @philldoylephoto and Dan Linehan @irishexaminer to see the sunrise. #Ploegen2024 photo.twitter.com/zcUk2ZlohZ

— Irish Farmers Association (@IFAmedia) September 17, 2024

“As soon as the clock goes off in the morning you feel that excitement, you get a buzz,” Mr Byrne added.

He said he is working with the horses with Mr Gorey and Mr Fitzpatrick, which gives him hope that the training will continue.

“You need the youth; without them you’re nowhere, whatever it is – as long as you see the kids playing football, hurling, camogie, soccer, that’s what life is all about.

“To keep everything going, you need the younger generation. We need to encourage them.”

This year, all the popular attractions are back, such as sheep shearing, tracking, pony games and much more.

This week’s event will see the hunt for Ireland’s ‘fittest farmer’. The competition is organised by Zurich and chaired by Davy Fitzgerald, while Lidl will be looking for Ireland’s fastest milker this week.