Next year's 76th National Ploughing Championships will be held in Tullamore, Co Offaly,which will play host to the biggest rural event in the country which attracts in the region of 150,000 people from Tuesday, September 25th, to Thursday, September 27th, 2007.
The announcement was made by the Finance Minister Brian Cowen who comes from Clara, just seven miles from the National Ploughing Championships site. He expressed delight that the championships were returning to Offaly for the fifth time in 70 years, the first being in Tullamore in 1936.
The actual townland of Annaharvey where the championships will take place is located just three miles from Tullamore on the road to Portarlington (R420) and is ideally located for easy access from all over the country.
The Annaharvey Farm is a 400 acre working tillage farm run by the Deverell family who have a keen interest in show jumping and eventing.
Henry Deverell said he was very excited at the prospect of hosting the championships and was looking forward to the challenge.
Michael Mahon, chairman of the National Ploughing Association, said the association made the decision to bring the event to Offaly next year primarily because of the excellent venue made available by the Deverell family and neighbouring farmers.
In September, Tullow in Co Carlow will host the World Ploughing Championships as well as the Nationals over four days from Wednesday 27th through to Saturday 30th.
Thirty countries will be participating and NPA managing director, Anna May McHugh, said that interest from intending exhibitors and visiting delegations was excellent.
Upwards on 160,000 people are expected to attend the Tullow event and the organisers expect the proximity to the capital will also increase attendance.
Work is well advanced on preparing the site for the championships which have become the highlight of the farming calendar year.
This year show cattle from Northern Ireland will be able to take part following the lifting of an EU ban on the export of cattle from the North.