The National Ploughing Championships (N.P.A) each year attracts an average of over 180,000 visitors over 3 days, 1,100 exhibition stands and covers a staggering 700 acres.
Alongside the farming community the ploughing championships attract thousands of people from a non-farming background. The event is divided into two main aspects, a tented trade village and a machinery and livestock exhibition spread over 80 acres. There is also an auto arena, a bio-energy village and a forestry village. In recent years the N.P.A have developed a very comprehensive "lifestyle arena". This sector includes fashion shows, celebrity cookery demonstrations, I.C.A seminars, craft workshops, retail outlets, health, leisure, tourism, education, home and garden.
A food pavilion showcasing many artisan food producers and cottage industries as well as a leader food and craft fair. The second aspect, the national ploughing finals, involve 300 competitors from all over Ireland and some visiting countries competing in 17 different ploughing competitions to win national titles and qualify for world, european and other international competitions.
A diverse social programme includes a competitive horse speed trial, the hunt chase, sheep dog trials, sheep shearing, meggars, sheaf tossing, vintage machinery demonstrations, fashion shows, most appropriately dressed lady and gent competitions and the best of Irish and country music all day.
