Watch video: Champion loy digger showcases skills at county ploughing championships
Loy diggers in action at the Roscommon Ploughing Championships in Fuerty.
It’s only a few short years ago that Pauline Lavin from Strokestown began practising a tradition that stretches back to Famine times but she is now a national champion in loy digging.
This ploughing tradition for sowing potatoes involves a long narrow spade and is enjoyed as a heritage sport competition right across the country.
In only her second year competing, Pauline won a silver medal in the junior women’s category at the 2024 National Ploughing championships and took the gold last year. She will now be competing in the senior category in Tullamore this year.
Originally a tractor plougher for more than three decades, Pauline has developed a real passion for loy digging.
Up to recently, she was the only competitive loy digger in the county but now has an understudy in Rachel O'Grady from Fourmilehouse.
New recruit Rachel is hoping to compete in the junior category at this year’s National Ploughing championships in Offaly.
In preparation for the national finals, Pauline and Rachel were practising at the Roscommon ploughing championships on Sunday on the Hanley farm in Fuerty.
