West Cork ploughmen tops in Europe

BY JOHN SEXTON

FRESH from their great success at the All-Ireland championships in Tullamore, members of the Cork West ploughing team competed in the European Championships, held in Scotland last week.  

Ger Coakley won the senior reversible class, while Liam O’Driscoll was placed second and Des Wright from Northern Ireland came in third. 

Accompanying Ger and Liam were Anna May McHugh, managing director of the National Ploughing Association, and her daughter, Ann Marie,  as well as  Jackie O’Driscoll (the Irish coach) and John Matt O’Donovan (the Irish judge); there was a judge from each country that competed. On arrival back at Cork Airport, the European medallists were met by a large contingent of ploughing followers. 

Anna May, in paying tribute to them, said they were worthy of our greatest acolades by their performances both at home and abroad, where they are displaying the noble art of ploughmanship for all to see and admire. 

Meanwhile, John Murphy was feted at a reception in Pat Joe’s Bar on last Friday night in recognition of his victory in the intermediate class in Tullamore.