Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted with all that is happening across the country this week. The National Ploughing Championships commenced yesterday and continues today and tomorrow. Very many people attended yesterday and are there today. I look forward to getting there tomorrow at some stage. However, one needs to know where one is going because the event is so huge that it feels like a jungle due to the amount of stands and everything else.

Many agricultural shows have resumed. In County Galway, the Ballyforan Fair will take place next Saturday and the Ballinasloe Horse and Agricultural Show will take place on Sunday. These occasions are crucial because they are family events. There is so much for people to enjoy, regardless of whether one has anything to do with farming or agriculture. These are great events because they are local community-driven events.

I wish to highlight the Night & Day Festival at Clonalis House, Castlerea, County Roscommon. It is a beautiful estate and grounds located close to the banks of the River Suck. It is a stunning location for a festival in the west of Ireland. The festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday with performances by bands like Villagers, The Zutons and Cathy Davey. There are five stages, including a comedy stage and political stage so I look forward to seeing Deputies and Ministers attending. On Saturday, the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, will attend around 3 p.m. and, on Sunday, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, will attend. The festival has so much to offer people be it music or current affairs. Finally, I encourage people to think about coming to the west this weekend..