Will you go to the ploughing 2018

Base price

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Arrived at the car park at 9 am. Waited in the car till 11 to be told it was cancelled. Headed off to the ploughing fields then, was zero point in trying to get out with c 30k other cars. Had a great afternoon tbh. Went and watched 2 friends compete and learned a bit too.
Tempted to head up tomorrow, **** happens. The npa did what they could and like everyone that travelled we all hoped it wouldn't have been that bad!

I think that most people forget it is the National Ploughing Championships which is the culmination of the regional competitions.

Bass Reeves

road_high wrote: »

In and around Offaly? I can’t envisage that being a huge challenge. They’ll be delighted to be filling rooms for another night.

Not for all but for some, many will be staying in Athlone, Mullingar, Portlaois. Hotels will have taken other bookings, it a Thursday night there will be the odd wedding on Friday and people staying the night before.

I am not saying it will effect all business's but it will effect many. Then other business's will look and see if other business's are pulling out. Workers on stands will have Commitments as well. If you are working on the stand you will not be home before early Saturday morning. For some stand and stall type business's Saturday is a busy day many go to Markets etc. If Friday go's ahead there will be only 50% of the stands there and I if it goes ahead. It may be wishful thinking by the NPA

Iodine1

road_high wrote: »

In and around Offaly? I can’t envisage that being a huge challenge. They’ll be delighted to be filling rooms for another night.

Stand owners might like the idea, but the staff will be totally sick of it all and will not be volunteering for an extra night in offaly either. It sounds to me like this idea was run by the majors: IFA, IFJ ALDI LIDL and a few others and the rest of the stand holders can just get on with it.

Iodine1

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Not for all but for some, many will be staying in Athlone, Mullingar, Portlaois. Hotels will have taken other bookings, it a Thursday night there will be the odd wedding on Friday and people staying the night before.

I am not saying it will effect all business's but it will effect many. Then other business's will look and see if other business's are pulling out. Workers on stands will have Commitments as well. If you are working on the stand you will not be home before early Saturday morning. For some stand and stall type business's Saturday is a busy day many go to Markets etc. If Friday go's ahead there will be only 50% of the stands there and I if it goes ahead. It may be wishful thinking by the NPA

Yes agree completely, it is not as simple as come on lads we're open.

fastrac94

Surely its not as simple as pack up and go home, nothing more than what a stall holder can carry in their hands will b let leave the site before close of business on friday,that's how it works at auctions and the like,can't have gear being moved and the public moving around on h&s grounds..

Joe Daly

Friday will be like an all Ireland with out the cup a lot of people still go see the ploughing. A brother of mine was on a stand with a major company he is away out of it tomorrow evening he has to be in Manchester Friday am he said it was a disaster he hates it.

tractorporn

road_high wrote:

Have you spoken to many of them? I think if it were me I'd view as an opportunity to salvage something from a bad situation- I've a feeling a lot will go on Friday- particularly if the weather is good. A lot out of sentiment just to support the thing. Friday is a good day for a lot of people as regards getting off on short notice.. Only issue I can see is the security of machinery and products on vacated stands but that will be sorted no doubt.

All round us said they weren't going to stay for the Friday. Between accommodation and damage to stalls most just want out. Our boss said the hotel jacked up the price for Thursday night and just told us to come home.

Dunedin

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Shur maybe I'll stay in bed all day if the mood takes me :-)

No point in staying in bed if you’re all alone .......

Bass Reeves

fastrac94 wrote: »

Surely its not as simple as pack up and go home, nothing more than what a stall holder can carry in their hands will b let leave the site before close of business on friday,that's how it works at auctions and the like,can't have gear being moved and the public moving around on h&s grounds..

Just because the NPA want to try to get 30-40K people to come and pay 25/head to salvage something for the NPA will not mean that stall and business can accomodate them. The agreement was until Thursday evening. If lads want to pack up and leave, they will pack up and leave. The NPA will not be able to prevent them. As people are coming in Friday there will be lads leaving with there gear.

Burning Tires

I've 2 friends working on different stalls, one on a major/sizable companies. Both are pulling out this evening at 5. Accommodation, damaged stall, other staff commitments are conspiring against them..... and the 2 of them sound sick of the whole thing.

I'd go on friday but i think 20%+ of the stands will be closed

Beechwoodspark

Anna may will def open Friday and tell exhibitors to go whistle if anyone mentions refunds for yesterday

Buford T. Justice XIX

Base price wrote: »

I think that most people forget it is the National Ploughing Championships which is the culmination of the regional competitions.

Yeah, it's not just IKEA for farmers.

Say my name

Will there be a ploughing match in carlow at all next year at this rate? :pac:

Maybe some of the local struggling shows might benefit from a bit of a fallout for next year and be thankful of the exhibitors. No school tours looking for free pens either.

Dakota Dan

Iodine1 wrote: »

You must mean for the volunteers. I'm a paying guest and I never saw anyone giving out free sausages etc. Got a cup of tea and a biscuit all right but rarely enough. Some of the stands sell good home farm produced products which I always get something to bring home and it's always a treat.

You honestly never saw free food samples being handed out at the ploughing?

grassroot1

Beechwoodspark wrote:

Anna may will def open Friday and tell exhibitors to go whistle if anyone mentions refunds for yesterday

And that's the real reason it will open Friday

Trasna1

Burning Tires wrote: »

I've 2 friends working on different stalls, one on a major/sizable companies. Both are pulling out this evening at 5. Accommodation, damaged stall, other staff commitments are conspiring against them..... and the 2 of them sound sick of the whole thing.

I'd go on friday but i think 20%+ of the stands will be closed

I don't get this attitude. That vibe comes off plenty of stall holders down there, that they don't actually want to be there. It then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy that they don't get many leads or make many sales. What's more, even with the Ploughing discount, good value is hard found - it's like lads expect product to walk out of the stalls with zero effort.

I was in the market for a hot power washer last year and there most have been 30+ stalls selling washers. Now it's not a product in particularly high demand, and you can bet that many of those stalls didn't get much out of the Ploughing.
None I asked could even closely match online prices either.

Dakota Dan

Trasna1 wrote: »

I don't get this attitude. That vibe comes off plenty of stall holders down there, that they don't actually want to be there. It then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy that they don't get many leads or make many sales. What's more, even with the Ploughing discount, good value is hard found - it's like lads expect product to walk out of the stalls with zero effort.

I was in the market for a hot power washer last year and there most have been 30+ stalls selling washers. Now it's not a product in particularly high demand, and you can bet that many of those stalls didn't get much out of the Ploughing.
None I asked could even closely match online prices either.

I gone to the ploughing plenty times over the years showing interest in stands and only one ever contacted me with a follow up and ironically he turned out to be a cowboy. I paid a deposit on equipment he was selling and he sold it elsewhere and then tried to hold onto my deposit.

_Brian

Trasna1 wrote: »

I don't get this attitude. That vibe comes off plenty of stall holders down there, that they don't actually want to be there. It then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy that they don't get many leads or make many sales. What's more, even with the Ploughing discount, good value is hard found - it's like lads expect product to walk out of the stalls with zero effort.

I was in the market for a hot power washer last year and there most have been 30+ stalls selling washers. Now it's not a product in particularly high demand, and you can bet that many of those stalls didn't get much out of the Ploughing.
None I asked could even closely match online prices either.

Ive mode stands at ag shows but not the ploughing, it’s a drag of a job and nose employees have no interest in it.
It usually involves stupidly early mornings, late evenings and lots of standing around talking to lads with no intention of buying, sales would the be maybe 0.5% of punters you engage with which gets tiresome. Maybe for born sales men it’s a great thrill, but for regular employees it’s just drudgery.

Iodine1

Dakota Dan wrote: »

You honestly never saw free food samples being handed out at the ploughing?

We were not talking about tasters. No i'm afraid I don't go round gathering tit bits of stuff. This is going away from the point anyway.

whelan2

Is it €25 in?

wrangler

Trasna1 wrote: »

I don't get this attitude. That vibe comes off plenty of stall holders down there, that they don't actually want to be there. It then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy that they don't get many leads or make many sales. What's more, even with the Ploughing discount, good value is hard found - it's like lads expect product to walk out of the stalls with zero effort.

I was in the market for a hot power washer last year and there most have been 30+ stalls selling washers. Now it's not a product in particularly high demand, and you can bet that many of those stalls didn't get much out of the Ploughing.
None I asked could even closely match online prices either.

,

I'd go to the ploughing to see what's available and then try and buy it locally,
You never know when you'll need the service, I do the same with theing I see in Aldi'/lidl......OH is after buying three or four pairs of boots online (well known make)all rubbish.....is the online business a dumping ground in that they're hoping that people won't be bothered sending stuff back

Dakota Dan

Iodine1 wrote: »

We were not talking about tasters. No i'm afraid I don't go round gathering tit bits of stuff. This is going away from the point anyway.

You hardly though I meant a four course meal, a plate of sasuages with everyone dipping their fingers in it should have made it clear. You weren’t the poster I asked BTW.

Dakota Dan

whelan2 wrote: »

Is it €25 in?

Anna may getting greedy?

Seanhorse91

Dakota Dan wrote: »

Anna may getting greedy?

€20 on Tuesday anyways

grassroot1

whelan2 wrote:

Is it €25 in?

No 20 euro

whelan2

grassroot1 wrote: »

No 20 euro

Someone said earlier in this thread it was 25, just checking

orm0nd

whelan2 wrote: »

Someone said earlier in this thread it was 25, just checking

Did you go yesterday

whelan2

orm0nd wrote: »

Did you go yesterday

No. Cant go this year.

Wildsurfer

whelan2 wrote: »

grassroot1 wrote: »

No 20 euro

Someone said earlier in this thread it was 25, just checking

I think Bass was exaggerating for effect. Anna May has gold taps in her bathroom and drives a Ferrari too don't you know...

Say my name

Wildsurfer wrote: »

I think Bass was exaggerating for effect. Anna May has gold taps in her bathroom and drives a Ferrari too don't you know...

Ah I doubt it.
The unwritten rule in the Mafia is never show your wealth.

valtra2

Wildsurfer wrote: »

I think Bass was exaggerating for effect. Anna May has gold taps in her bathroom and drives a Ferrari too don't you know...

It wouldn't be like him!!!!!

Say my name

valtra2 wrote: »

It wouldn't be like him!!!!!

Boards would be lost without him all the same. He has a great head on his shoulders.

roosterman71

lakill Farm wrote: »

Yes.

Going to buy a slanetrac Hc150 hedge cutter for the mini digger. It’s like a finger bar mower type hedgecutter.

Did you buy one after?
I got one recently for the front loader. Does a grand job on sides of hedges, but a pain in the arse for the top as the cuttings get caught at the motor and it will just drag them along. Might be better on the digger where you can slew in and out, but the loader is a poor job for top of hedges

whelan2

What's the weather like there today.

Kristopherus

whelan2 wrote: »

What's the weather like there today.

Early afternoon will be the start of the downpour, going by the Met Eireann graphics.

Say my name

Kristopherus wrote: »

Early afternoon will be the start of the downpour, going by the Met Eireann graphics.

Supposed to be raining there now according to the live radar.
The downpour looks to be going further north than forecasted by met eireann.
ICON model had that.

croot

Anna Marie was on the radio saying if you turned up before 12.30 yesterday it was your own fault as you were told a decision was going to be made then. A bit arrogant I thought

recyclebin

croot wrote: »

Anna Marie was on the radio saying if you turned up before 12.30 yesterday it was your own fault as you were told a decision was going to be made then. A bit arrogant I thought

They were saying all Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning that it would open at 11am! Did they even check out the site early on Wednesday morning before tweeting/facebook that they were still opening at 11am. It looked like there attitude was, ah sure it will be grand.

Dakota Dan

croot wrote: »

Anna Marie was on the radio saying if you turned up before 12.30 yesterday it was your own fault as you were told a decision was going to be made then. A bit arrogant I thought

Anna Marie needs to realise which side her bread is buttered, don’t knock your paying patrons.

Say my name

croot wrote: »

Anna Marie was on the radio saying if you turned up before 12.30 yesterday it was your own fault as you were told a decision was going to be made then. A bit arrogant I thought

You're not supposed to say stuff like that here.

Ah completely arrogant and it shows her attitude to it all.
The father was watching that ploughing live thing there Tuesday evening and Joanna Donnelly was emphasizing how the weather was going to be bad on Wednesday. Then Aine Lawlor (i know shes nothing to do with the Npa) goes and we'll still be open bright and early.
Then that tweet from the Npa at 7.30 am yesterday morning telling how they had talks with met eireann and the wind was dying down and they would be open by 11 am. There were no bleedin discussions with met eireann.:mad:


It was a total shambles. The only saving grace was that there wasn't a bus load of children hit by a falling tree on the way to the Ploughing yesterday morning.

Trasna1

croot wrote: »

Anna Marie was on the radio saying if you turned up before 12.30 yesterday it was your own fault as you were told a decision was going to be made then. A bit arrogant I thought

That's definitely the wrong attitude to have. While I have sympathy that the weather can ruin any event out of doors, if everyone had waited until 12:30 to make their decision to go out, she wouldn't have had any problem with turning away crowds because there would be no one there. Be careful what you wish for.

In fact yesterday was a total shambles. There was no effective disaster plan (every big event needs a workable one), and no communication between stewards. If it wasn't for the rte website then people would have been standing around in the dark for an awful lot longer.

gozunda

Kristopherus wrote: »

Early afternoon will be the start of the downpour, going by the Met Eireann graphics.

Heavy rainfall here most of this morning

MfMan

croot wrote: »

Anna Marie was on the radio saying if you turned up before 12.30 yesterday it was your own fault as you were told a decision was going to be made then. A bit arrogant I thought

The trouble is that the ploughing has become such a huge commercial event. The 2 Ms. McHughs are totally out of their depth in trying to manage such an event. Really need properly qualified commercial teams from now on to pull the whole thing together.

charolais0153

Looks very messy there from what i have seen on snapchat

grassroot1

croot wrote:

Anna Marie was on the radio saying if you turned up before 12.30 yesterday it was your own fault as you were told a decision was going to be made then. A bit arrogant I thought

We left home yesterday at 8 the weather was ok. The information was that when the height of the wind had passed at 11 it would open.
Clearly the site was not safe to open at anytime and well they knew it.
Financial concerns were the priority
The call not to open was correct but it should have been made earlier anytime up to 11 would have been fine

Wildsurfer

grassroot1 wrote: »

croot wrote:

Anna Marie was on the radio saying if you turned up before 12.30 yesterday it was your own fault as you were told a decision was going to be made then. A bit arrogant I thought

We left home yesterday at 8 the weather was ok. The information was that when the height of the wind had passed at 11 it would open.
Clearly the site was not safe to open at anytime and well they knew it.
Financial concerns were the priority
The call not to open was correct but it should have been made earlier anytime up to 11 would have been fine

When was all the damage done to the site? Was it around 11am or was it earlier. If it was earlier, going by the photos I have seen surely anyone with common sense should have known it couldn't go ahead. Sur they barely got it fixed up in time for today.

road_high

croot wrote: »

Anna Marie was on the radio saying if you turned up before 12.30 yesterday it was your own fault as you were told a decision was going to be made then. A bit arrogant I thought

Yea, in all fairness she sounded ridiculous- it's never going to take "only half an hour" to get there and in unless living very locally. You wouldn't have just decided to pop up from Cork at 11.00 am to the car park on the off chance it might be opening at 12.00 pm!
This has done a lot of damage to their reputation, more so with the crucial stand holders who pay for it all and their salaries.
Speaking to people in the past that have had stands the costs are massive, just to even rent the space. I know a few small businesses that gave up on it over the years- you can see the shift as it became less pure agri focused.

GrasstoMilk

Wildsurfer wrote: »

When was all the damage done to the site? Was it around 11am or was it earlier. If it was earlier, going by the photos I have seen surely anyone with common sense should have known it couldn't go ahead. Sur they barely got it fixed up in time for today.

I was in the car park at 9 am and it was quite calm. The winds picked up at 10 am and the damage was done between 10 and 11 am.
Met eireann had it forcasted to be gone by 10 am but it hadn't

road_high

What's it like up there today? I'm picturing hell with all the school kids splashing eachother and everyone else with ****e. Cool, wet and miserable.
How are the car parks?

bogman_bass

MfMan wrote: »

The trouble is that the ploughing has become such a huge commercial event. The 2 Ms. McHughs are totally out of their depth in trying to manage such an event. Really need properly qualified commercial teams from now on to pull the whole thing together.

That’s BS. They’ve been running the largest outdoor evenit in Europe for years and you think somebody would be better qualified to do it? You might not like them but you can’t fault their ability.

They made the wrong call yesterday but hindsight is a wonderful thing. It’s amazing that everybody is saying they should have canceled it Tuesday night but stangly nobody posted that on Tuesday