Cavan Ploughing Club will hold its annual ploughing and family fun day on the land of Rodney Wilton, Kiffa, Crosserlough, Co. Cavan, on bank holiday Monday, May 5, kicking off at 11:00am

There will be lots to see and do at the event, including tractor, horse and vintage ploughing; loy digging; trade stands; a pet farm; a dog show; amusements and music by popular Donegal country music entertainer, Paul Kelly and his band.

Paul Kelly will also be Cavan Ploughing's celebrity ploughman on the day, and will plough a couple of furrows with one of the Cavan Ploughing Club's tractors.

The classes will include: 2 furrow senior; 2 furrow vintage diesel; 3 furrow; 2 furrow vintage All-Ireland qualifier; 2 furrow junior; classic class; single furrow mounted; vintage trailed; loy junior; loy senior; and loy under-21.

The current committee comprises: chair, Patrick Donnellan; secretary, Samuel Thompson; director, Jim Vogan; public relations office (PRO), Charlene Magee; assistant PRO, Andrew Tully; and treasurer, Liam Dolan.

Charlene Magee is currently the sole female member of the committee and would love to see other women getting involved.

The PRO said: "I was working in Ballyjamesduff mart at the time when Bill Vogan came in and asked me to go to a ploughing meeting. I ploughed novice in 2019. There was no ploughing in 2020 or 2021 due to Covid."

Kathleen Reilly flew the flag for women when she won the loy competition in 2002, 2011 and 2014.

Cavan Ploughing has approximately 60 members at present.

"Numbers are growing slowly from year to year. We are a very active club and participate in many county matches throughout the country," said Magee.

"We have had competitors in Meath, Dublin, Louth, Monaghan, Sligo, Donegal and Longford and we still have Leitrim, Mayo and Roscommon to participate in yet.`'

Cavan Ploughing was founded by Ted Sheridan, Liam Patterson, Patsy Reilly, Ollie Smith, and Eamonn Carolan.

The 1980 event was held in Kingscourt, Co. Cavan and returned there several times over the years as it moved around the county.

"Our big wins over the years included: 1994 when Kevin Smith won the junior 2 furrow; 1995 when Cecil McCullagh was successful in the junior 3 furrow; and 2002, 2011 and 2014 when Kathleen Reilly was victorious in the ladies' loy; in 2022 when Andrew Tully won junior 3 furrow," Magee said.