By Evelyn Cullen
A Letterkenny woman has once again dug her way into the history books, claiming her fifth national title in the Senior Ladies Loy Digging competition at the National Ploughing Championships.
Marion Boyce, from Castleshanaghan, struck gold at this year’s festival, which took place from September 16 to 18 in Screggan, County Offaly.
The championships are Europe’s largest outdoor agricultural gathering and Ireland’s flagship celebration of farming, food and rural culture, attracting crowds of more than 200,000.
Ms Boyce, who previously won in 2008, ’09, ’10 and ’12, said she was thrilled to add another jewel to her crown.
“I’m delighted to win,” she said.
“I love going to the Ploughing every year for the craic and the festivities, and getting the win is the icing on the cake.”
Her competition took place on the Wednesday, with a light shower the night before creating near-ideal conditions.
“The drop of rain softened the ground and left it easier to dig,” explained Ms Boyce, who is pictured proudly beside her winning plot.
She completed her work in two hours 30 minutes, well within the allotted two hours 45 minutes.
But as she pointed out, it’s not a race. Participants are judged not on speed, but on the straightness and neatness of their sods, the uniformity of the trench and the skill in handling the loy. The loy is a traditional long, narrow spade once central to Irish farming life.
“It’s less about speed and more about craftsmanship and tradition, keeping alive a skill that was once vital to rural communities,” she said.
There’s also a special significance to Ms Boyce’s loy, which has been in her family for generations and she believes it brings her luck every time she competes. “It was passed on to me by my cousin Anthony McElwee and Gerry Mallon, who were previous winners. This particular loy spade has many wins alright” she said.
She will now attend the Competitors’ Banquet on Sunday, October 5, where she will be formally presented with a perpetual cup to mark her achievement.
“I’ve a nice wee spot cleared on my mantlepiece for it,” she quipped.
