The Church of Ireland made its presence felt at the National Ploughing Championships. This national event took place in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly from Sept 20th to 22nd September.

Tullamore Union of Parishes broadcast a Morning Service on RTE television on Sunday 18 September, at 11am. Ms Anna May McHugh, President of the National Ploughing Association, read one of the readings. The Service was broadcast from St Catherine’s Church, Tullamore.

Rev Isaac Delamere (Rector) said, “We were delighted to be broadcasting a Service to coincide with the Championships. A tremendous amount of work was done in preparation by Ms Eva Draper (Organist), the Parish choir and many others. The involvement of other choirs made it a real community celebration”.

The theme of the Service was Come and See the Fruits of His Creation. Rev Delamere led the Service and Bishop Storey (Bishop of Meath & Kildare) was the preacher.

The Church of Ireland hosted a tent at the National Ploughing Championships. As the event took place within the diocesan boundary of Meath and Kildare the dioceses organised the Church of Ireland tent.

Bishop Pat Storey said, “Our exhibition tent offered a friendly welcome, coffee and a prayer space for visitors. The Church of Ireland felt it was important to be part of Europe’s largest Outdoor Exhibition and Agricultural Trade Show. We were absolutely delighted with the volume of visitors.”. The theme for the tent space was‘Come and See’.

Last year 281,000 people attended the National Ploughing Championships.