They debated bringing the wellies, but like tens of thousands of others, Fórsa staff were glad of them as the fields of Offaly turned to brown sludge this year - a far cry from the beaming rays of Ploughing 2024. James Redmond has this report from Screggan. 

All day long, Fórsa ran into delighted members. Tote bags and t-shirts were handed out to anyone who stopped by, while a never-ending stream of teenagers took part in a competition designed to plant a little knowledge about trade unions before they take on their first job. 

The threatened downpours never came, and instead the crowds got a classic September day - bright skies, good spirits, and just the sharp lash of a shower to spice things up. 

Fórsa’s director of campaigns, Kevin Donoghue, was in the thick of it all week. 

“We're talking to members, non-members, potential members and young people about what Fórsa is, what it does and what we have to offer. We have plenty on offer, and people are really engaging with us. The atmosphere is great. People absolutely love the Ploughing, and it's really easy to get caught up in it as well.” 

Outside the Education and Business Hub, former union president - and now treasurer - Micheal Smyth charmed his way across the arena, dropping into a universe of tents and stalls where Fórsa members were manning tables for their employers. 

“The people that are at the Ploughing Championship that we represent are largely people from across the civil and public service. People working in government departments and in semi-states would be represented with stalls here.” 

But what really struck him was the level of recognition Fórsa now commands — not least thanks to the pension parity strike, which has lodged itself firmly in the hearts and minds of the nation. 

“The amount of people I've met from the school sector, for example senior school secretaries who were on tours with young people from that sector, has been quite substantial. So, it's a great cross-section of our society that we’re meeting here. And it's important that we enforce our presence where the people are.” 

Fórsa Treasurer and former President Michael Smyth, a strong handshake for a strong union

By early afternoon, Fórsa’s senior membership recruitment officer Khalid El-Busaidy had already clocked more than ten hours weaving his way through muck and crowds. His day started at 6am, but he was still buzzing. 

“It’s the crowd coming in who are giving us all the energy and the buzz and the sparkle. Without the mud there's no Ploughing Championships. It’s been brilliant. That is the taste of the ploughing.” 

And the engagement, he said, was massive: “A lot of people coming in here are public sector workers. There are thousands of them. And as I said, we've had huge engagement with people coming to this tent.” 

Senior membership officer Khalid El Busaidy and campaigns intern Rency George spreading the word from the stand.

Despite the early starts and long days, the energy was infectious. 

Margaret, a school secretary from Gaelscoil Athy and a native of Ballylynan, stopped by with her daughter, both of them, like tens of thousands across the country, taking a day off for the event.  

“It's a nice day out,” she smiled. For Margaret, the union’s presence at the Ploughing was a reassuring touchstone after recent battles. 

“We were involved in the strike two weeks ago. Obviously, the talks are ongoing, so we’re waiting to hear what will happen. I knew you were here again today, so we said we’d pop over and say hello. You know, after we’ve been in the strike, I would just like to touch base and say hello to everybody.” 

The strike was still fresh in her mind. 

“I'm glad we done it. You know, and I'm very pleased so far to hear that we’re sitting down to talks and hopefully we get somewhere. Yeah, I'm certainly glad we took part in it. We put the effort in. We do the work. So we're not looking for anything different or special or anything,” she asserted with pride. 

Fórsa President Martin Walsh taking the long view and reaching out to the next generation.

Áine, a special needs assistant from Dungarvan and a proud farmer’s daughter, was in flying form and in her element. 

“Fabulous. Absolutely amazing. The cow makes it.  Love it,” she said, grinning from ear to ear as she took in the Fórsa stall with its 8-foot-high billboard warning punters not to “Get milked at work.” 

For her, the Ploughing is tradition, she said: “It's like a yearly tradition for me. And I'm a farmer's daughter, so it's great. It's an amazing event for everybody. There's so much here. It's crazy.” 

And of course, there was the mud.  All conversations eventually lead to the mud. 

“A couple of years ago I was here and I was covered head to toe in mud, and I made the front page of The Farmers Journal because of it. So this year, I am doing pretty well,” Áine laughs. 

But above all, Áine spoke about solidarity. 

“It's so nice and refreshing as a Fórsa member to know that there's always someone there if you need help or if you need to talk to someone or get advice. I cannot say enough about how much support we get from ye — it’s unbelievable. And everyone should join if they can.” 

Chair of the Civil Service division Jean Taylor sharing the joy of union membership.

With only the briefest of a September shower, the day was a hit. For Fórsa, the Ploughing was more than an event - it was a reminder that the union’s strength is found where members gather, get involved, and get stuck in.  

Even if that means getting stuck in the mud in the middle of Offaly. 

Watch the full report here on Youtube. 

Get Connected  

Subscribe to Fórsa’s YouTube channel and get the latest stories straight from other workers and members themselves. Hear what matters most in workplaces and communities across the island. Click here to subscribe, stay connected, and don’t forget - share widely and let’s strengthen our collective voice!   

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.