Ballycastle prepares for Ireland’s last all-horse ploughing match

Competitors demonstrating traditional horse ploughing during the Ballycastle & District Horse Ploughing Society’s annual St Patrick’s Day match — the only all-horse ploughing event still held in Ireland.

One of Ireland’s most remarkable farming traditions is set to return this St Patrick’s Day as the Ballycastle and District Horse Ploughing Society prepares to stage what is believed to be the last remaining all-horse ploughing match in Ireland.

The annual event, expected to take place on Monday 17 March, brings together skilled ploughmen, powerful working horses and spectators from across Ireland to celebrate a craft that once formed the backbone of rural life.

Weather permitting, fields outside Ballycastle will once again echo with the steady rhythm of horse-drawn ploughs cutting clean, straight furrows through the soil — a sight that has captivated generations.

A tradition stretching back nearly two centuries

The Ballycastle match traces its origins to the early 1840s, when ploughing competitions were organised by local farming societies keen to showcase agricultural skill.

The Ballycastle and District Horse Ploughing Society itself was formally established in 1902, and apart from a pause during the First World War, the St Patrick’s Day match has continued for well over a century.

At a time when most ploughing competitions now feature tractors and modern machinery, the Ballycastle event has remained proudly dedicated to horse-drawn ploughing, preserving techniques that were once central to farming life across Ireland.

For organisers, the aim remains clear — to keep traditional horse ploughing alive and pass the knowledge on to future generations.

A gathering of skill, strength and heritage

Members of Ballycastle & District Horse Ploughing Society presenting a donation to Air Ambulance Northern Ireland on behalf of the Black family.

Each year the match attracts competitors and spectators from across Ireland and beyond, all eager to witness the combination of craftsmanship and horsepower required to produce perfectly turned furrows.

Working horses and their handlers demonstrate the precision, patience and partnership required to master the traditional art of ploughing — a skill honed over years of experience.

The event also provides a rare opportunity for younger generations to experience first-hand a farming tradition that shaped rural communities for centuries.

Community support behind the event

This year’s match will once again take place on land generously provided by the Black family, whose support makes both the ploughing and car-parking arrangements possible.

In recognition of that support and the importance of giving back locally, the Society recently made a donation to Air Ambulance Northern Ireland on behalf of the Black family, supporting the vital emergency service.

A St Patrick’s Day celebration

Competitors are encouraged to bring their horses and ploughs along, while spectators are warmly invited to attend what organisers promise will be a lively and welcoming gathering.

With St Patrick’s Day colours expected to be proudly on display, visitors are encouraged to arrive well dressed for the occasion — shovel in hand — and enjoy a celebration of one of Ireland’s oldest farming traditions.

If the weather is kind, the fields around Ballycastle will once again host a timeless scene: horses pulling ploughs, soil turning in perfect lines, and a community coming together to honour a piece of rural heritage that has endured for generations.

At a glance

• Ballycastle will host its annual St Patrick’s Day Horse Ploughing Match on Monday 17 March, weather permitting.

• The event is believed to be the last remaining all-horse ploughing match in Ireland.

• The tradition dates back to ploughing competitions in the early 1840s.

• The Ballycastle and District Horse Ploughing Society was founded in 1902.

• Apart from a break during the First World War, the match has continued for more than a century.

• Competitors and spectators travel from across Ireland and beyond each year.

• The event takes place on land provided by the Black family.

• The Society recently made a donation to Air Ambulance Northern Ireland on the family’s behalf.

• Organisers encourage visitors to attend and celebrate traditional farming skills and rural heritage.