Today’s Afternoon Show came to you live from the 82nd National Ploughing Championships 2013. Joining Máire in the Clare FM stand was Eddie Punch, Cratloe farmer from the Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers Association. They discussed the major issues facing Clare farmers at the moment and spoke about the importance of the Ploughing Championships in terms of networking, education and the general sociability of such an event for the farming community.
Walter Moroney from O’Callaghan’s Mills is one of the Clare competitors at the Championships this year and is competing in the Vintage 2 Furrow trailer class. He explained the technicalities and skill involved at this level of competition. He also discussed the prominence and importance of vintage ploughing and how the tradition has been maintained over the years.
Jackie Slattery is the Clare federation President of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association and joined Máire for a chat about how the ICA is going from strength to strength in Clare. The Irish Countrywomen’s Association is a women’s organisation with almost 11,000 members. In 2010 they celebrated their Centenary and a very long tradition of making a difference in women’s lives. Fun, friendship and support are at the centre of everything that they do – but they also aim to make women’s voices heard on the issues of the day. ICA members meet in local groups across the country – almost 700 Guilds each of which offers a varied programmes of activity including trips and visits, crafts and art, interesting speakers, competitions and a whole lot more. Clare ICA guilds, of which there are 20, meet monthly.
Sinead Corbett is Clare’s only female competitive plougher. The nurse from Newmarket on Fergus is a regular competitor at the national Ploughing Championships having come through the regional heats during the year. She explained to Máire how she became interested in the practice and how she’s leading the way for ladies in the field.
To contact the show please email afternoon@clare.fm
