NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS 17th – 19th September 2024
CHURCH OF IRELAND STAND
The National Ploughing Championships are happening on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, September 17-19th and we are running the Church of Ireland stand there as it is on our Diocesan ‘patch’ again this year. Block No: 2 Row No: 11 Stand No: 168
Many people probably don’t realise how much planning and work goes into organising the stand but here’s an insight. Online meetings have been going on since May, chaired by Archdeacon Mark Hayden, and everything is now in place – marquee organised, water, electricity and insurance and health and safety requirements complied with etc. We will have a theme for each of the three days this time too – youth, mission and ministry, and ecology.
The theme for each day will be announced shortly and these themes will involve having representatives from all the relevant Diocesan organisations on hand on the relevant day and having all the literature and ‘freebies’ necessary there to make a visit to our Stand enjoyable and informative. A week prior to the 17th a team of helpers led by Eric Driver from Tullow parish will transport all the interior structures (saved from 2023) to the marquee already erected for us on the field. Assembly will then take place (an internal wall) and touch-up painting will be done where required. Tables and chairs will be arranged on one side. Exterior signs will also be erected to let people know who we are and that they are welcome.
The Sunday before the event will involve another visit, including Diocesan staff this time, getting the tea area organised, setting up a screen, the prayer trees and displaying all literature and giveaways like armbands and pencils and also organising the children’s art area. The quiet space with its comfortable sofa (an oasis of calm so popular last time) will be there again along with the prayer trees and of course, tea, coffee and biscuit refreshment – always important on long Ploughing days. There will be clergy there each day to meet and greet and answer any questions that visitors have too, so all told it will be a great showcase for our diocese and for the Church of Ireland. Our Diocesan Communications Officer Mr. Shane Reynolds will be attending the three-day event to get all the coverage for our social media platforms so if you happen to call into the stand make sure to get in some pictures. Many helpers are needed each day to help with the teas and the meeting and greeting of those visiting the tent so putting your name on the roster for a two-hour stint on any of the three days would be very, very much appreciated.
Please email Archdeacon Mark Hayden at haydemark@gmail.com or Archdeacon Alec Purser at alecpurser@gmail.com or janetpfinlay@gmail.com or Liz at the Diocesan Office know at palacecoachhouse@gmail.com They hope that their email inboxes will runneth over!
Archdeacon Alec Purser, in whose parish the Ploughing takes place says: “It is a wonderful opportunity for us as a Church to offer our hospitality and conversation and to reach out to all who will gather over the three days. To make this happen, we are asking people to help on any of the three days. Many thanks to all those who helped out last year. Your efforts were very much appreciated, and it was a great success. If you will be attending and could spare an hour or two helping to make teas or coffees, making people welcome or handing out some information, please let us know.
For further information please contact:
Mr Shane Reynolds
Diocesan Communications Officer, Cashel, Ferns & Ossory
cfodco2023@gmail.com 083 327 4122
