The National Ploughing Championships took place in Ballintrane, Co. Carlow recently.

It was attended by a host of the NK Management Talent.  Ryan Tubridy, Doireann Garrihy and Pat Kenny, all broadcast their radio show from the event.  Paul Flynn was doing cookery demonstrations in the Lidl tent, Katherine Thomas and Diarmuid Gavin were hosting the Discover Gardening demo at the Jaguar stand, Karl Henry was there with the Department of Health as part of their new Healthy Ireland campaign.

The NPC is a great showcase of Irish Food, Farming and Culture.   In it's 88th year, the visitor numbers reached an all time high of  297,000 this year, over the 3 days, with exhibitors and visitors alike thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Doireann Garrihy recently launched the shortlist of 22 non-profit organisations that are in the running for this year's Coca-Cola "Thank You" fund of €100,000.

To date, the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund has supported projects including community, social and education programmes aimed at youth, healthy and active lifestyles, and environmental leadership. The fund is now in it's 9th year and will focus on working with communities in Ireland and Northern Ireland to inspire and support young people.

Communities are asked to cast their vote for this year's "People's Choice Award" at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.   The winners will be announced at Zeminar in October

Dr Ciara Kelly travelled to Gambela in Ethiopia recently with Goal, to visit the refugee camps and report on the food programme there.
GOAL works in more than 40 locations across Ethiopia providing emergency nutrition, water and livelihood following devastation caused by years of drought.
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Ciara met the most kind, decent and resilient people in this incredible country and found the visit very impactful and humbling. 

Anna Geary has joined the Repak Green Team which was founded to support Ireland in achieving the new recycling targets that have been set by the European Commission.
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Anna intends to raise public awareness and is committed to recycling at lease one more piece of plastic a week. She has also made a conscious effort to educate herself by ensuring that all recyclable items are clean, loose and dry, going into the bin.

Joe Duffy, Paul McAuliffe, the new Lord Mayor of Dublin and minister Katherine Zappone, were in St Audeon's Park in Dublin City Center last week, at the opening of the 1916 Children's Commemorative Play Garden.

The garden was launched to remember the 40 children killed in Dublin during the Easter Rising of 1916, which was highlighted by Joe Duffy's book "Children of the Rising"

Over 220 children and young people were consulted on the garden as part of 2016 Centenary Programmes.  They felt  they wanted something that would both honour the children of 1916 and give pleasure to today’s children and young people.

Irish life sciences company, Genomics Medicine Ireland (GMI), has opened a research clinic in Dublin’s city centre.

The company in association with the UCD Institute of Sport and Health, will conduct research to provide a comprehensive view of potential genetic factors contributing to fitness health, which in turn could lead to the developments of targeted interventions to improve your future health.  Over 3000 volunteers will be assisting in the research that will in time, it is hoped, benefit Irish patients with chronic illnesses.

Bernard Dunne's latest book "Champion of the World" is an inspiring book, based on Bernard's own story, how a little kid from Neilstown in West Dublin, became a world champion boxer.

Bernard describes his life as a boy, the ups and downs of his life and career and the powerful life lessons and skills that sport can teach a child.  Sport can make you believe in yourself and help you focus on goals within sport and also other parts of life, with hard work. 

Karen Koster has just launched the  GroMor campaign in conjunction with Retail Excellence Ireland and Bord Bia.

The aim of the campaign is to make gardening more accessible to everyone by offering practical advice on how to make the most of your space, whether  it’s an allotment, an apartment balcony, or even a herb garden for the kitchen table.  

So discover your green fingers and grab a trowel and uncover the beauty and mystery of your own garden.