2019 Ploughing is the best-attended championships since they began in 1931

Thu, 19 Sep, 2019 - 20:28

Digital Desk staff

The 88th Ploughing Championships have broken all attendance records.

297,000 people attended the event in Fenagh, Co. Carlow over the past three days, including more than 81,000 going through the gates today alone.

That makes it the best-attended Ploughing Championships since they began in 1931.

The final day of the 2019 event saw Micheál Martin in attendance, where he ruled out the Taoiseach's suggestion

The beef blockades were a hot topic again, with Agriculture Minister Michael Creed saying the voices of beef farmers have been heard "

He also warned that Irish farmers "live or die" by international trade and many other countries would happily take our place if beef supplies are disrupted.

Fresh from his

He made a

There was serious stuff to discuss too, as the Taoiseach said a Brexit deal would have to be hammered out in advance of any EU Council meeting as it wouldn't happen "at 5am with 27 Prime Ministers and their teams trying to write up a treaty".

He was responding to comments made by Finnish prime minister Antti Rinne who said Boris Johnson has until the end of the month to set out his Brexit plans to the EU.

While Mr Varadkar said

Finally, Ireland's favourite prayer was also revealed at the agricultural event.

The people of Ireland have voted the Hail Mary as their favourite prayer with more than 1,500 people took part in the poll.