On 20 September, President Michael D. Higgins formally opened the 85th National Ploughing Championships.
The Ploughing Championships have become one of Europe’s largest outdoor events and attracted an estimated 281,000 visitors last year.
You can read the President's speeches at previous Championships here:
* National Ploughing Championships 2015
* National Ploughing Championships 2014
The President also attended the National Ploughing Championships in 2013 and 2012.