The President says the rural urban divide is getting wider.
Speaking at the opening of the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan in Co Offaly, Michael D Higgins says farming needs to be viewed as more than a sector.
Around 300,000 people are expected to attend the event over the next three days.
President Higgins says we need a better balance to our economic development.
9 competitors from Clare are taking part in this year’s championships from Cratloe, Bridgetown, Kilkishen, Ardnacrusha, Ennistymon, O’Callaghan’s Mills, Kilkee and Newmarket on Fergus.
Assistant Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships Anne-Marie McHugh has been speaking with Clare FM’s Pat Flynn, who’s at the ploughing chmpionships – she says planning for the event has been ongoing all year:
