Ploughing 2026 Day Two: As It Happened

Innovation, wellbeing and renewables are key themes at this year’s Championships

Good afternoon, and welcome to our live coverage of day two of the National Ploughing Championships.

We'll be bringing you all the best stories from Screggan in Tullamore throughout the day.

T-shirts with the print ‘no farmers, no food, no future’ are being sold at the National Ploughing Championships, as the sector comes out of a challenging summer.

Farmers at the event in County Offaly are highlighting the impact drought conditions have had on their lands, as well as rising costs of food and fuel.

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships Macra President Josephine O’Neill says young farmers are feeling the pinch;

Close to 80,000 spectators were in Screggan today for day two of the National Ploughing Championships.

Today's attractions include the brown bread baking competition and the Ploughing itself.

Dublin’s Olivia Nash (left) and Mayo’s Sarah Davitt (right) today’s qualifiers for senior brown bread baking category

Senior Brown Bread Baking Competition finalist Olivia Nash from Dublin says she's always loved baking:

Olivia with today’s bake and her daughter Mabel

These young brothers are amongst the visitors:

The world record holder for sheep shearing is defending his title at day two of the National Ploughing Championships today.

Its one of a number of contests taking place as part of the event in Screggan in County Offaly.

World champion sheep shearer Ivan Scott from County Donegal is defending his national title in front of large crowds.

He says it's just something that grabbed his attention when he was younger:

Professional Westmeath matchmaker, Mairead Loughman is heading to the event to help farmers find their perfect match.

The Mullingar woman will be scouting the crowds for potential couples and says with thousands passing through the gates - there's plenty of opportunity for romance:

These people came from America to see what the Ploughing Championships has to offer:

A Midlands school is continuing a long tradition of attending the National Ploughing Championships.

Cistercian College in Roscrea was the first secondary school to have a stand at the event over 20 years ago.

Female students are now enrolling at the school for the first time in its 120 year history.

Third year student Robert Myles says it's been a really positive change:

Full interview with Seamus Hennessy Dean and Director of Admission, Cistercian College with 3rd year students Robert Myles, Brian Gee and Ryan Martley:

A Leinster Championship winning Westmeath forward is voicing his concerns when it comes to the future of farming in Ireland.

Head of Sales at The Agricultural Trust John Heslin says potential cuts to farming payments are unlikely to be made up by increased food prices.

Negotiations over the next Common Agricultural Policy will continue in the EU until the end of this year with an initial proposal of a 22 per cent cut being roundly criticised by Irish farmers.

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championsips, St Loman's Mullingar player says he hopes the government can support farmers adequately in Budget 2027:

The Central Bank is cutting its forecast for new home completions over the next three years.

It expects 39,500 homes to be built this year and 41,000 next year - well below the estimated 50,000 needed annually.

The bank also says construction times for houses and apartments have doubled.

These people say it's become too difficult to build your own home:

Ireland’s EU Commissioner is welcoming the lifting of US tariffs on Irish whiskey.

US President Donald Trump announced that the current 10% tariff on Irish whiskey would be lifted after discussions he had with Clara's Shane Lowry among others at the weekend.  

Ireland will now be treated like the UK, where there are no tariffs on Scotch or whiskey from Northern Ireland.

Commissioner Michael McGrath says the move will bring benefits to the whiskey industry here:

Jolene Minogue from Flynn's Irish Whiskey, which launched 12 months ago at the National Ploughing Championships says it's the "best news" possible:

The European Commission will be outlining details of its plans to restrict children's access to social media this week.

The EU Kids Act will mean children under the age of 15 won't be able to open a social media account without express consent from their parent or guardian.

Under 13s will only be able to access a child friendly alternative platform.

There's a range of diverse views on the issue when it comes to people at this year's National Ploughing Championships in Offaly as Midlands 103's Caoimhe Killeen has been finding out:

Livestock, as ever, is centre stage at the Ploughing:

Over 75,000 people are expected to come through the gates on day two of the National Ploughing Championships in Offaly today.

Attendance on day one reached a total of 77,000 according to the NPA.

The forecast for the remainder of the week is relatively positive with a mix of cloud and sunny spells and occasional light showers.

Deputy Managing Director Of National Ploughing Association Anna Marie McHugh says the event offers people the chance to support their local businesses:

It's getting busy at the Enterprise Village.

Aniko szucs - is the founder of EV Accessories Ireland based in Athlone.

She's been telling Midlands 103's Caoimhe Killeen about how the company came about:

A man has been arrested at the National Ploughing Championships after a public order incident.

The man, who is in his 60s, was arrested shortly after 12pm yesterday afternoon.

He was brought to a garda station in Offaly and has sence been charged and released to appear before a sitting of the District Court at a later date.

There were no injuries resulting from the incident.

Thousands of people are making their way to County Offaly for the second day of the National Ploughing Championships.

Nearly 290,000 spectators and competitors are expected in Screggan over the course of the three day event.

700 acres of land are being used for the 95th annual Ploughing Championships, with hundreds of competitions, exhibitions and machinery onsite.

These women have been making the pilgrimage for nearly a decade:

There was high spirits on day one of the event, with the interactive activities and live music at the bandstand making for a family day out:

However rising costs for farmers, and uncertainty around the future CAP budget wasn’t far from everyone’s lips:

Gates open to the public at 9 o’clock this morning, with the ploughing getting underway in the senior category at 10.30am.

President Catherine Connolly is again calling for urgent action on climate change.

Opening the 95th National Ploughing Championships in Screggan County Offaly yesterday, she said the event was talking place against the 'backdrop of unprecedented global heating'.

President Catherine Connolly says farmers know all too well the impact of extreme weather events:

Read more: Ploughing Live 2026 Day One: As It Happened