Central Bank and European Central Bank exhibit at National Ploughing Championships

• Exhibition on the evolution of Ireland’s currency over the past 100 years
• First public unveiling of New €50 note in Ireland
• Visitors can also see a cheque from the Central Bank archives dating from 1915 signed by Padraic Pearse

The Central Bank of Ireland and the European Central Bank (ECB) will attend this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly to celebrate the centenary of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic with a currency exhibition.

The Central Bank has issued collector coins to commemorate the centenary and some of these will be available to purchase.

The ECB will unveil the new €50 note ahead of its circulation in Ireland next year.  People who visit this exhibition will be among the first in Europe to see the note.  Visitors will also have the opportunity to get up close to a replica gold bar, feel the weight of it and guess its weight.

The exhibition will have a number of special guests throughout the event including a coin expert on Wednesday 21 September who will be available to discuss rare and valuable coins.  Experts will be on hand to answer questions on the new regulations on lending to SME’s and farm enterprises, and more general questions on the Central Bank’s role in safeguarding stability and protecting consumers.  Those attending will also be able to see what happens to old banknotes when we bring €500,000 in shredded notes.

The Central Bank’s stand is in Row 13, Site 311.