What is precious to you, for one reason or another? What object would you never want to lose? Our treasured possessions are often an expression, sometimes an extension, of our very selves. AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity, has been working on a series of stories of famous people and their special possessions. From Colin Farrell and Sebastian Barry to Rachael Blackmore, Commissioner Mairead McGuinness and Professor Mary Horgan (and many more) everyone AsIAm invited to participate entered into the project with gusto, and THE GLOSS is proud to partner with AsIAm and bring you a story a month …
Anna May McHugh has been Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships since 1973. She lives close to the village of Ballylinan, Co Laois, and has lived in this area all her life.
Anna May’s journey to The National Ploughing Championship started in 1952 when she took a job as a secretary to the founder of the National Ploughing Association. She went on to be appointed Secretary in 1956 when the NPA became a limited company, and was elected Managing Director in 1973.
With Anna May at the helm, The National Ploughing Championships has evolved from a small ploughing match and agricultural trade exhibition to what it is now. It is widely recognised as the biggest agricultural event in Europe with over 250,000 attendees, 1,700 trade exhibitors and 350 ploughing competitors.
Anna May is a Board Member of the World Ploughing Organisation, Chairperson and a Director of KFM Radio, she served on the board of Teagasc for five years, Laois Enterprise Board for 15 years and she is actively involved in a number of community organisations.
Anna May is passionate about GAA. She played camogie in the late 1950s and early 1960s at local, county and provincial level and is the proud holder of five All-Ireland medals. Amongst her many awards, these medals remain very treasured possessions for Anna May.
My Camogie Medals
“I am extremely proud of my camogie medals. They mean so much to me and any opportunity I get to show them off to people who are interested in sports, gives me enormous pleasure.
Winning my first medal as County Laois Champions was a dream come true but going on to be selected for the Leinster Team and to be the proud owner of five All-Ireland medals, is beyond belief. As I look back, however, I realise there is another very important side to winning medals – it is the marvellous friendships you make with so many lovely girls, from all the different counties when playing for Leinster.
The comradeships that last for years with moments of joy and sometimes disappointment. Overall, when I am admiring my medals, they bring back wonderful memories of youthful days.
Now I immensely enjoy watching camogie matches, and I certainly never miss a good hurling match.”
AsIAm, founded by Adam Harris in 2014, has a vision for Ireland as a place where every Autistic person is accepted “as they are” – equal, valued and respected. AsIAm provides community support through advice, advocacy, support and special interest groups for children and adults with autism. AsIAm provides training programmes in autism awareness and inclusion, and supports businesses to successfully recruit and employ autistic candidates. The charity operates an information line (0818 234 234) and provides support via instant messaging and email (support@asIam.ie).
To find out more: www.asiam.ie
To donate: www.asiam.ie/support-our-work/donate/
Photography by Conor Healy @pictureitpix