The National Ploughing Championships 2027 is coming to Rathangan, Co. Kildare, from 21 to 23 September, and the Glenroyal Hotel in Maynooth is one of the closest comfortable bases you’ll find for it. Just 36 km up the road, it’s an easy stay for competitors, exhibitors, and visitors heading to Ireland’s biggest outdoor event.

All About the Ploughing Championships

The National Ploughing Championships, also known as “the Ploughing,” is Ireland’s largest outdoor event and one of the biggest agricultural shows in Europe. It is organised by the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and has been running since 1931, when the first contest was held on a farm in Athy, County Kildare, between competitors from Wexford and Kildare.

Today the event has grown well beyond its original ploughing contest. It now covers hundreds of acres and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors over three days, with attendance reaching around 225,500 at the 2025 event. More than 1,700 exhibitors typically take part.

While ploughing competitions remain at the heart of the event, with competitors judged across dozens of classes ranging from vintage and conventional ploughs to reversible and horse ploughing, the Championships have expanded into a much wider showcase. Visitors can expect:

• Ploughing competitions across a wide range of classes, including international entries in competitions such as the Five Nations Ploughing Competition
• Machinery displays from farm equipment manufacturers and dealers
• Livestock exhibits and demonstrations
• Food halls, craft stalls, and fashion shows
• Talks, panel discussions, and stages covering farming, rural life, and innovation
• Attractions for children and families

The event is held every September and moves to a different host site around the country most years, decided by the NPA in consultation with local landowners and county councils. Recent editions have been held at Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly, in 2025 and 2026.

When is the National Ploughing Championships 2027?

The National Ploughing Association (NPA) has confirmed the Championships will take place from Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23 September 2027. This is a week later than the usual mid-September slot. The NPA moved the dates to avoid a clash with the Ryder Cup, which takes place at Adare Manor, County Limerick, from 13 to 19 September 2027.

Where will the 2027 Ploughing Championships be held?

The 2027 Championships will be held in Rathangan, Co. Kildare. This brings the event back to Kildare for the first time since 2009, after three years at Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly. Rathangan is only around 36 km (22 miles) from Maynooth, about a 45 minute drive. That makes the Glenroyal one of the more convenient hotel bases for the 2027 event, close enough for an easy commute to the show fields each morning without having to stay on site or in a small local town.

Why Stay at the Glenroyal Hotel for the Ploughing 2027

A comfortable base lose to Rathangan. At around 36 km away, the Glenroyal Hotel is an easy drive from the 2027 show site, roughly 45 minutes by car. That’s close enough to head out early each of the three days and still get back for a proper dinner and a good night’s sleep, without booking into a small town right next to the site.

Central, easy to reach location. The Glenroyal Hotel sits on the Straffan Road in the heart of Maynooth, County Kildare, right on the edge of the Midlands and just off the main routes west and south. Maynooth is well served by road and rail, with Maynooth train station directly across from the hotel, making it a practical stopover whether you’re driving in from Dublin, coming from further afield, or combining the trip with other plans in Kildare.

A relaxing place to unwind after a long day on site. The Ploughing means a full day on your feet, often in changeable weather, so a proper place to recover matters. The Glenroyal Leisure Club has two indoor swimming pools, sauna, steam room, and a well equipped gym, ideal for easing out the aches of a day spent walking the show fields.

Food and drink on site. After a day at the Ploughing, you can eat and drink without leaving the hotel. Our Arkle Bar & Restaurant serve award-winning food and drink, while Shoda Market Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and coffee.

Comfortable rooms for families and groups. With over 150 guest rooms, family rooms, and free onsite parking, the Glenroyal suits everything from a couple attending for the day to a group of exhibitors staying for the full three days.

Good value for a multi-day event. Because the Championships run over three days, many visitors choose to base themselves nearby rather than commute from home each day. The Glenroyal’s Maynooth location keeps you within easy reach of Dublin (around 20 minutes by car) as well as Rathangan and the wider Kildare area, so you’re well placed for the show and for anything else you want to fit into the trip.

Getting to the Glenroyal Hotel

• Address: Straffan Road, Maynooth, County Kildare, W23 C2V1
• From Rathangan (2027 Ploughing site): approximately 36 km (22 miles), about 45 minutes by car
• From Dublin: approximately 20 minutes by car
• From Dublin Airport: approximately 25 to 30 minutes by car
• By train: Maynooth station is directly across from the hotel, with regular services to Dublin Connolly and Heuston

Make a Weekend of It

Maynooth itself is worth building time around. The Glenroyal is a short walk from Maynooth University and Maynooth Castle, and the town has a good range of shops, cafes, and pubs. If you’re travelling as a family or a group, it’s an easy way to turn a day at the Ploughing into a proper weekend away.

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National Ploughing Championships 2027 FAQs