Media Release
Thursday, 10 September 2026
Ministers Calleary and Buttimer look forward to welcoming visitors to their Department’s exhibit at the 2026 National Ploughing Championships
- Focus on opportunities for communities and enterprises in rural areas
- Exhibit to have emphasis on Irish language
- Climbing wall, interactive quizzes, CPR demonstrations, Robotics, coding workshops and mobile library
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht’s marquee at this year’s National Ploughing Championships will demonstrate how Government investment is supporting rural areas, the positive impacts of community supports and the increasing interest in the Irish language. This years’ event takes place from 15th –17th September in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
The marquee will also have a lot of interest for families and younger visitors, with a mobile library, coding workshops, life-saving CPR demonstrations, an 8-metre outdoor climbing wall and much more.
Speaking about his Department’s presence at the National Ploughing Championships Minister Calleary said:
“The National Ploughing Championships is a hugely important event for rural Ireland. It is a celebration of community spirit, heritage and pulls together the best in Irish agriculture, enterprise, entrepreneurship, camaraderie and, of course, the absolute elite in ploughing.
“It serves as a great opportunity for me, Minister Buttimer, and our colleagues in the Department to meet some of the people we aim to support.
“There is something for everyone at the Department’s marquee where attendees can learn about how our rural investment programme is revitalising rural areas and how interest in the Irish language is increasing.
“There are also demonstrations, workshops, fun activities for kids, and visitors can meet some of the community groups and social enterprises that are making a real difference across Ireland. I look forward to welcoming you there.”
Minister of State with Responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD said:
“For me, and everyone in the Department, this event provides us with a unique opportunity to engage directly with rural communities, community organisations and stakeholders, while promoting priorities in relation to rural development, community supports and the Gaeltacht.
“The event also increases visibility of our programmes and provides an opportunity for me as a Minister to inform the public of the supports and services we deliver.”
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht’s marquee is called – ‘Our Rural Future – Supporting Communities and Our Language’ (Stand 110, Row 5, Block4).
Summary of activities
- Get expert guidance on the range of funding schemes available for rural and community development projects.
- Find out about volunteering and Public Participation Network news and opportunities in your area.
- Hear directly from TidyTowns volunteers about what it takes to make your community bloom.
- Gaeltacht: live storytelling sessions
- Kids can play with amazing robots and learn about technology.
- Our Kids Code
- Guess the area – the map of Ireland competition
- The Ark – creative arts for children
- Interactive Touchscreens & Digital Funding Map
- Meet Department staff and programme experts
- Arts and crafts stations, themed around rural life and Irish culture
- Learn life-saving CPR and how to fit a lifejacket properly
- The History of Placenames in Ireland
- Embrace Ireland’s Outdoors by scaling the eight-metre climbing wall
- Enjoy books, games, and a magician at the mobile library.
For further information visit gov.ie/ploughing
Follow the Department for regular Ploughing updates on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Preasráiteas
Déardaoin, 10 Meán Fómhair 2026
Tá na hAirí Calleary agus Buttimer ag tnúth le fáilte a chur roimh chuairteoirí chuig taispeántas na Roinne ag Comórtas Náisiúnta Treabhdóireachta 2026
- Fócas ar dheiseanna do phobail agus d’fhiontair i gceantair thuaithe
- Béim ar an nGaeilge sa taispeántas
- Balla dreapadóireachta, tráth na gceist idirghníomhach, taispeántais ACS, róbataic, ceardlanna códaithe agus leabharlann shoghluaiste
Léireofar an chaoi a bhfuil infheistíocht an Rialtais ag tacú le ceantair thuaithe, an tionchar dearfach a bhíonn ag tacaíochtaí pobail, agus spéis sa Ghaeilge atá ag méadú i bpuball an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta ag Comórtas Náisiúnta Treabhdóireachta 2026. Reáchtálfar imeacht na bliana seo ón 15 go dtí an 17 Meán Fómhair sa Screagán, Tulach Mhór, Contae Uíbh Fhailí.
Beidh go leor le tairiscint ag an bpuball do theaghlaigh agus do chuairteoirí óga freisin, lena n-áirítear leabharlann shoghluaiste, ceardlanna códaithe, taispeántais tarrthála ACS, balla dreapadóireachta faoin aer atá 8 méadar ar airde, agus go leor eile.
Ag labhairt faoi láithreacht na Roinne ag an gComórtas Náisiúnta Treabhdóireachta, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Is imeacht thar a bheith tábhachtach é an Comórtas Náisiúnta Treabhdóireachta do thuath na hÉireann. Is ceiliúradh é ar spiorad pobail agus ar an oidhreacht, agus tugtar le chéile ann talmhaíocht, fiontraíocht, cairdeas agus ar ndóigh, na treabhdóirí is fearr in Éirinn.
“Is deis iontach í seo dom féin, don Aire Buttimer agus dár gcomhghleacaithe sa Roinn bualadh le roinnt de na daoine a bhfuil sé mar aidhm againn tacú leo.
“Tá rud éigin i bpuball na Roinne do chách, áit ar féidir foghlaim faoin gcaoi a bhfuil ár gclár infheistíochta tuaithe ag athbheochan ceantair thuaithe agus faoin gcaoi a bhfuil an spéis sa Ghaeilge ag méadú.
“Beidh taispeántais, ceardlanna agus gníomhaíochtaí spraíúla do pháistí ar siúl ann freisin, agus is féidir le cuairteoirí bualadh le cuid de na grúpaí pobail agus de na fiontair shóisialta atá ag déanamh fíordhifríochta ar fud na hÉireann. Táim ag tnúth le fáilte a chur romhaibh ann.”
Dúirt an tAire Stáit a bhfuil freagracht air as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer TD:
“Tugtar deis uathúil do gach duine sa Roinn agus dom féin ag an imeacht seo teagmháil dhíreach a dhéanamh le pobail thuaithe, le heagraíochtaí pobail agus le páirtithe leasmhara, agus ag an am céanna tosaíochtaí a bhaineann le forbairt tuaithe, le tacaíochtaí pobail agus leis an nGaeltacht a chur chun cinn.
“Méadaítear feiceálacht ár gclár mar gheall ar an imeacht seo agus tugtar deis dom, mar Aire, an pobal a chur ar an eolas faoi na tacaíochtaí agus na seirbhísí a chuirimid ar fáil.”
‘Ár dTodhchaí Tuaithe – Ag Tacú le Pobail agus lenár dTeanga’ (Seastán 110, Sraith 5, Bloc 4) is ainm do phuball an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta.
Achoimre ar ghníomhaíochtaí
- Tabharfar treoir shaineolach maidir leis an réimse scéimeanna maoinithe atá ar fáil do thionscadail forbartha tuaithe agus pobail.
- Cuirfear eolas ar fáil faoi dheiseanna chun obair dheonach a dhéanamh agus chun páirt a ghlacadh sa phobal i do cheantar féin.
- Labhróidh oibrithe deonacha na mBailte Slachtmhara faoin méid a theastaíonn chun do phobal a chur chun cinn
- An Ghaeltacht: seisiúin scéalaíochta beo
- Is féidir le páistí súgradh le róbait iontacha agus foghlaim faoin teicneolaíocht.
- Códú do Leanaí
- Comórtas léarscáil na hÉireann
- An Áirc – ealaíona cruthaitheacha do pháistí
- Scáileáin tadhaill idirghníomhacha & léarscáil dhigiteach maoinithe
- Deiseanna labhartha le foireann na Roinne agus le saineolaithe cláir
- Stáisiúin ealaíne agus ceardaíochta, bunaithe ar théamaí a bhaineann leis an saol tuaithe agus le cultúr na hÉireann
- Foghlaim conas ACS tarrthála a dhéanamh agus conas seaicéad tarrthála a chaitheamh i gceart
- Stair Logainmneacha na hÉireann
- Bain sult as an saol faoin aer in Éirinn trí dhreapadh ar an mballa dreapadóireachta ocht méadar ar airde
- Bain sult as leabhair, cluichí agus léiriú draíochta ag an leabharlann shoghluaiste.
Tá tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ar gov.ie/ploughing
Lean an Roinn ar Twitter, Instagram, Facebook agus LinkedIn chun nuashonruithe rialta a fháil faoin gComórtas Náisiúnta Treabhdóireachta.