
A judge has made repeated comments on assaults at the event.
The National Ploughing Association is defending safety standards at their championships, following concerns of future bar licensing at the festival.
It follows repeated comments by Judge Andrew Cody in Tullamore District Court on assaults at the event.
He'd been considering an application for a occasional bar licence for this years event, which takes place at Screggan in Tullamore from September 16th to the 18th.
While the licence was granted, Judge Cody said he would not grant one again if there were assaults recorded at a level like those in previous years when the event was hosted in Ratheniska
Assistant Managing Director of the Association Anna Marie McHugh says they're always updating safety regulations: