MONUMENT: South Kerry Ploughing aim to commemerate the 1954 World Ploughing Championships held in Killarney. Pictured were: Thomas Wharton, Cllr Brendan Cronin, Tom Leslie and Dan O'Leary. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Sean Moriarty

An over-sight by organisers of the World Ploughing Championships in Killarney 65 years ago will be corrected next month with a monument on Mission Road.
Ireland was the second host nation, after Canada, of the World Ploughing Championships, held where Lackabane Golf Club is now situated.
Tradition has it that every year the host nation builds a peace cairn on the site of the championships - but this did not happen in 1954.
Thanks to the efforts of the South Kerry Ploughing committee this will be corrected on May 11.
A site, on Mission Road, near the entrance to Killarney Park has been identified.
The peace cairn will be built using one large stone from each of the participating nations 65 years ago – a total of 13 countries competed that year.
One rock will carry a Latin inscription, that translates in to “We live off the soil”, as a message of peace to all nations. It will also carry the World Ploughing and National Ploughing logos.
The Killarney peace cairn is being organised by the National Ploughing Association with direction from the world governing body.
South Kerry Ploughing is helping to organise the unveiling ceremony in Killarney. A souvenir programme will also be published to mark the occasion.
“I first became interested in the history of this when I found photos of the German team practicing on my grandfather’s farm, they were driving Porsche tractors,” said local organiser Tom Leslie. “I’m looking for locals who might have photographs and memorabilia from the event 65 years ago for inclusion in the programme and other displays.”
Tom can be contacted on 087 238 3809.