National Ploughing Championships 2023 

Despite the particularly wet start it was another great year at the National Ploughing Championships for the ICA! 

We are thankful to the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine for their kind and ongoing support.

Tuesday morning brought great excitement as the ICA was represented at the National Brown Bread Baking competition by Kathleen Dillon Byrne, Garryhill Guild, Carlow Federation and Liz Brady, Castlepollard Guild, Westmeath Federation. A tense morning was all worth it as Kathleen progressed to Thursday’s finals. 

Betty Caffrey, Clogherhead/Walshestown Guild, Louth Federation, flew the flag for the ICA on Wednesday at the National Brown Bread Baking competition. While Betty did not advance to the next stage of the competition on this occasion, she still made us proud. 

It was smiles all round on Thursday at National Brown Bread Baking final as Kathleen placed SECOND overall at the final on Thursday and we couldn’t be prouder of her. 

Outside of the Aldi Baking Tent we had a fantastic time meeting so many prospective new members, and showing the public everything that the ICA has to offer. 

From a beautiful display of crafts to the wonderful voices of Laois Federation Choir, to showcasing our community involvement through the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee. 

On Thursday National President Hilda Roche along with Laois Federation President Anne Cass got to meet Tánaiste Micheál Martin.  

Kildare Federation President, and crafter extraordinaire, Mary O’Gorman was even featured on RTÉ News discussing the charming teddy bears she had made. 

All in all, this year’s National Ploughing Championship gave us the perfect opportunity to show exactly what the ICA is all about: fun, friendship and fellowship. 

Thank you so much to the NPA for yet another fantastic championship.