From horse-drawn ploughs to autonomous tractors at Ireland’s ploughing show

The 95th edition took place at Screggan, near Tullamore in County Offaly, from 15 to 17 September, drawing more than 350 competitors and tens of thousands of visitors from Ireland and across the EU.

Traditional horse-drawn ploughs and vintage machinery stood alongside modern tractors, while veteran farmers demonstrated loy digging, an Irish method of turning soil by hand with a narrow spade.

The event also showcased the future of farming, with drones, robots and autonomous tractors highlighting the growing role of automation and precision agriculture.

Manitou’s MLT 625e, a battery-powered compact telehandler, was named Machine of the Year after judges found it matched the dimensions, lifting capacity and performance of comparable diesel models.

A restored Porsche tractor displayed by students from Mercy Secondary School in Ballymahon also drew attention as part of a charity raffle supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland.

The championships took place as Irish and European farmers faced rising costs and an ageing workforce, highlighting the need to combine traditional skills with new technology.

Often described as Europe’s largest outdoor event, the Irish Ploughing Championships attract between 250,000 and 300,000 visitors over just three days, temporarily turning a quiet site in Offaly into one of Ireland’s most populated areas.