National Ploughing Championships mapped by online technology thanks to Bank of Ireland

Bank arranges mapping of event using Street View technology

Bank of Ireland (Monday 22 September 2014) is pleased to announce that the 200,000 visitors intending to go to the National Ploughing Championships this week can plan their day out in advance thanks to Street View technology. The Bank has invested in providing a 360º virtual tour powered by Google’s Street View technology of the National Ploughing Championships, and is the first outdoor large scale event of its kind to be mapped in Ireland. The National Ploughing Championships, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, takes place from 23rd to 25th September at Ratheniska, Stradbally, Co Laois.

The map will allow the c. 200,000 visitors expected to attend over the three days to plan their schedule in advance using Google Street View to walk through the 800 acre site, comprising of over 1,400 exhibitor stands.

For those who are not able to attend this year, they will be able to be part of Ireland’s agricultural showcase from the comfort of home on their PC, tablet or mobile device.

Sean Farrell, Head of Agriculture, Bank of Ireland Business Banking said: “We are very excited to use Google mapping at a large scale event. This will be of enormous assistance to both exhibitors and visitors and is further evidence of how technology is changing our lives. The Bank has had a long and very successful association with the National Ploughing Championships and delivering a first at this event is very important to us. We are providing more than 50% of all new credit to the agri sector and we continue to have ambition to grow our agri book. Our objective is to add real value to the sector at every possible opportunity and Google mapping of the event certainly achieves this”.

Commenting NPA Managing Director, Anna May McHugh said: “The NPA has a proud tradition of pioneering the use of new technology, dating back to 1931. I am personally delighted that Bank of Ireland is enabling the event to be experienced from wherever you are in the world, through Google Street View”.

The Bank objective in providing this is to add value to all attendees, pushing the boundaries of technology integration with Europe’s largest outdoor exhibition and agricultural trade show.

Anyone looking to view the map, which will be live from Tuesday morning, and also be in with a chance to win a €2,500 cash prize can visit our website – www.bankofireland.com/ploughing.

Note to Editors :

Europe’s largest Outdoor Exhibition and Agricultural Trade Show,the National Ploughing Championships has over 1450 exhibitors this year and and over 250,000 visitors are anticipated to attend over the 3 days.
To deliver a street view of the completed stands, the 360 degree photospheres will be shot on Monday 22 September, just 24 hours before the Championships open. The map will then be LIVE in time for the opening of the event.

ENDS