LAUNCHED BY MINISTER MCCONALOGUE

PICTURED ABOVE, L-R: Michael Farrelly (executive director, FTMTA), Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., Karol Duigenan (president, FTMTA) and Maurice Kelly (vice president, FTMTA)

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D., has launched the Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association’s (FTMTA) Farm Machinery Show, wishing the FTMTA every success as its event returns to a traditional Winter staging.
 
Launching the show at Punchestown Event Centre, where it will run from Tuesday, November 12th to Thursday, November 14th, Minister McConalogue said, “Today’s farm machinery is a testament to the innovation of the sector and provides solutions to efficient farming across the country. The Punchestown event is an ideal showcase for this innovation.”
 
“I would like to offer my best wishes to the FTMTA and everyone involved in the organisation of such a large scale event which I am confident will generate huge interest amongst both the farming and wider rural communities.” 
 
FTMTA executive director Michael Farrelly, who, alongside FTMTA president Karol Duigenan and vice president Maurice Kelly welcomed Minister McConalogue to Punchestown for the launch, gratefully accepted the Minister’s wishes.
 
“On behalf of FTMTA, I’d like to thank Minister McConalogue for finding the time to launch this year’s show,” he said. “Having him join us at the FTMTA Show site, given how busy his schedule is, means a great deal to my colleagues and, in turn, to our exhibitors and members.”
 
Mr Farrelly added: “In rescheduling the Farm Machinery Show, we’ve effectively reset the focus for the new farming year, providing an opportunity for farmers to both advance and finalise some of their major planning decisions with 2025 in mind. The construction of our fully indoor show site at Punchestown is ongoing; the crew are doing a fantastic job in piecing everything together and we’re looking forward to the arrival and installation of so many industry-leading brands and innovations.” 
 
Moving the show into an end-of-year slot has paid off for the FTMTA given that the show’s exhibition space was fully sold out over a month in advance of the event itself.