Ploughing Championships 2013
On the 25th of September, Wednesday last, the Transition Year group from St. Nathy’s College headed for Ratheniska, Stradbally, Co. Laois for the Ploughing Championships 2013. The group of 26 students left Ballaghaderreen at 6.45 am along with two teachers Mr. Lennon and Ms. Munnelly. We stopped in Tullamore at 8 am to get something quick to eat and we all got back on the bus and hit off again. We arrived in Ratheniska at 10.45 am to a crowd of 187,000 people and 1,300 exhibitors and the sun beaming down on our faces. When we got off the bus there was a tractor and trailer waiting for us to bring us to the entrance. It was a tight squeeze to fit two bus loads, including ours, into the trailer. We handed in our tickets and we headed in. We were split into groups so that no one would get lost.
We walked around looking at what each tent had to offer and picked up any bits that were going for free. We all met back at about 12.15 to get food. We continued looking at each tent until we got to the funfair. We spent a little while there on each of the rides.
We had all arranged to meet back up at 4 pm at the gate and we would all head back to the bus together. We got the trailer back to the bus again and all boarded the bus. It took us an hour just to leave the car park as everyone seemed to be leaving at the same time. We finally got on the road and were on our way home.
We all had a sing song and were talking all the way home. We agreed that the highlights of the day included the vintage cars and tractors, all the different tents and stalls and the funfair. We decided to stop in Supermacs in Roscommon to get a something to eat before we arrived home. Soon after we were on the road again, it didn’t take us long to arrive in Ballaghaderreen. We got to Ballaghaderreen at 9pm, and all our parents were waiting for us.
Everyone really enjoyed their day, and hopes it’s just as good next year.
