Friday 4 December 2015

Officers and Committee - AGM November 23 2015

President: Margaret Kirk
Chairman: Eamonn Butler
Secretary: Carmel Ryan
Treasurer: Thomas Clarke
PRO: Michelle Morrison
Committee: JohnJoe Hyland, Teresa Murphy, Bernie Clarke, Rita Butler, Betty Rothwell, Marie O'Leary


Chairman’s address AGM November 23, 2015
Thank you all for coming along tonight, the Society’s 65th AGM.

As always, and no change here, I am very grateful to the Society’s officers and committee for making 2015 as successful as it possibly could be. I know this year may not have been as fulfilling insofar as outings had not attracted any great turnout, and especially when a subsidised coach journey was proposed. And, of course, the main one to the National Botanic Gardens and St Anne’s Rose Gardens in Dublin were abandoned due to appalling weather.

The holiday to Donegal, which had been very attractively priced, seduced only four members, Bernie and Tom Clarke, Rita and I. I suppose many people associate Donegal with rain and wind, but the three days we were away, I believe, provided some of the best weather of the whole summer. And the gardens we visited were magnificent.

 But let me say here, that there is no obligation on any member to participate in any outing, talk or project. We all lead busy lives and while those of us who are lucky to have retired, and imagined we would have lots of time on our hands, soon find there really is not enough of time.

Anyway, other highlights of the year which were successful were the Quiz Night, and many thanks to Quiz Master  Les Knowles for making it a very entertaining night; The Plant Sale again was a tremendous success, and of course the Show, main highlight of the year, was a real turnabout. From literally dust to starlight. The show was amazing, and so many supporters and visitors positively commented on it. If you remember, not many members who had a chance to see the venue under turmoil, believed the show would take place. You just have faith.

In a personal role, I have to thank everyone, stewards, helpers, judges, and especially our catering staff, who, let it said, had to work in the worst conditions ever. But, they made a terrific job of it and we all got to enjoy and relax with the best of home cooking. The addition of the plant and bric-a-brac sale added extra interest and proved very popular. And, of course, there was the after Show meal in the Golf Club which helped us to wind down after a hectic week.

I am very conscious that none of us are getting any younger, and the hard work of moving furniture is quite an exhausting  task, including the time and effort beforehand, on the day of the show and the cleaning up on the following Monday morning. It is not something many of us can continue to participate in. So, we must seek ways to lighten the load and, at least for the day, encourage members of the public to help out. Again many thanks to Jay Murphy and the college management committee for their unconditional support and assistance.

In further cross-community cooperation a group of volunteers from the Society engaged with the Tidy Towns and made a really excellent job of planting up the boxes and troughs along the Stream. Another cross-community exercise, which I believe is also proving very valuable and popular,  is our close association with Bunclody Library. Most of our talks are now held there.  It draws in people from all areas, and is something to build on. It is worth mentioning that prior to our collaboration with the Library all our talks were held in Redmonds and were free, including to members of the public. Following each talk or demonstration we attract new members. But really, in my opinion, it if we are simply encouraging the public to take an interest in gardening, getting to know plants and shrubs, propagation and how to make the most of a vegetable plot, we are performing a very valuable community service. It is an ethos I think we should adopt, that is serving the community in whatever way we can.

In September, following an earlier Society meeting where an alliance with the 2016 Carlow Garden Festival was proposed and caused some disquiet, to put it mildly, an EGM was held on September 7 to discuss and vote on the concept of moving the Annual Show forward to the Saturday (July 30) of the August Bank Holiday, 2016. This was not well received and voted down. An extra complication which put the final nails in the coffin was the planned VEC extensions perhaps beginning in early summer and not being complete by the August Bank Holiday which would have been the Carlow Garden Festival’s  final events. However, a proposal  to create an event for  the 2016 Bank Holiday to coincide with CGF was supported by the meeting and taken up by your committee. I’m pleased to say that has been accepted by the GFC and we have arranged, on Saturday, July 30, of the August 2016 Bank Holiday, to hold an open day event at Lucy’s Wood, with a noted speaker (to be arranged) to address those attending. A call will be made to members to help prepare Erika’s and Werner’s garden in the week running up to the open day. More of this later.

Although the EGM was called to discuss a single topic relating to the GFC the meeting allowed discussion on changing the name of the Society. This subject did not produce a satisfactory outcome and so a suggestion to run a poll through the October newsletter was mooted. I can say now that the outcome of the poll has been without doubt, voted down (electronic votes 5 for; 14 against; paper poll 18 against. Total number of votes 37).  So, that should end the matter and no further discussion will be necessary on the subject of a name change.

The year’s calendar of events has not quite finished. We had an excellent and enjoyable Christmas themed floral art demonstration by Helen Battigan, on November 12, to whom we are grateful for giving us her time and speaking so positively of the Bunclody Horticultural Society.
In the previous month we had a most interesting evening with Paul Cutler showing how easy it could be to make faux troughs and produce a real miniature alpine attraction for your patio or garden rockery. This, it is hoped will lead to members participating in the Rathvilly/Castledermot Spring Show.

On Saturday, December 12, all members are invited to Rita and my garden at Knockanure where Paul will demonstrate how best to winter prune various trees and shrubs. And don’t worry, nobody will be asked to lift a hand. Our garden will be as you find it. A mess. This will be followed by tea/coffee, and of course Rita and I would be grateful for a few of those very welcome home made cakes.

The Annual Christmas Dinner is timed for Saturday, December 12. Nicholas (087 6869457) will fill us in on developments and plans later on.


You can see in the latest December/November newsletter that the outgoing committee has drawn up a very active 2016 calendar. Some events are aspirational, like the alpine show and Fota Park. However, it will be up to the incoming committee and the monthly members’ meetings to decide what will run. The Library timetable is fixed, with more to be added, which will be included in the January newsletter, including Colman Byrne on April 7 and Oliver Schurmann, of Mount Venus nursery and garden garden design, May 12.

November December 2015 Newsletter




Thursday 3 December 2015

Winter 2015 to Summer 2016 Talks and Demonstrations

NOVEMBER  . . . 12th, Helen Battigan Floral Art Demo, Christmas Dreaming, Library, 7pm. Very successful and fully attended. Many thanks to Helen for a wonderful demo.
23rd, AGM. Best attended in recent years. Updating shortly.
30th, Work/care of  Bunclody Planters. Cancelled due to bad weather.

DECEMBER . . .  5th, Winter Pruning at Eamonn & Rita’s Gardens with Paul Cutler. 
12th, Christmas Dinner. Bunclody Golf Club. 7pm. 4 course, €25. Contact Nicholas , 087 6869457.

JANUARY, 2016. . . 11th, Monday, Monthly members meeting, second Monday of every month. All welcome. Redmonds, 8pm. 

FEBRUARY . . . Thursday, Quiz Night, Redmonds. Date to be arranged
18th,  Exciting Annuals, by Rachel Darlington. Accompanied by a slide show presentation and hand-outs with a plant list.

MARCH . . . . 10th, Thursday, Geoff Stebbings, Library, 7pm, see page 2.
14th, Monday meeting, Marie O’Leary will give an informal demo & talk on spring and alpine flowers. 

APRIL . . . 11th, Monday, Monthly meet, topic: cuttings
7th, Colman Byrne, of Rathvilly, talk on gardens, Library, 7pm.

MAY . . . 9th, Monday meeting;
14th , Saturday, Plant Sale, Sunday School
18th, Oliver Schurmann of Mount Venus Nursery, an expert in design and winner at Chelsea Flower Show. Library, 7pm

Other planned and aspirational, and hopefully, inspirational, events in November/December Newsletter




Wednesday 2 December 2015

Pruning workshop

Paul Cutler will lead an interesting workshop cum demonstration on how best to prune ornamental trees, fruit trees and shrubs at this time of year. Leaving aside plums and cherries this is probably the best time for winter pruning. Saturday, December 5, 2016, at Chairman's garden, 'Sliabh Radharc', Knockanure (near Clohamon on Ferns Road), Bunclody. 2pm. This is confined to members.

Thursday 3 September 2015

Extraordinary General Meeting - Monday 7th September - 7.00pm - Redmond's

Extraordinary General Meeting called in response to previous discussions: as this is a single agenda meeting to debate the motion:
  
'That Bunclody Horticultural Society participates in the 2016 Carlow Garden Festival'

Any other business will be at the discretion of members attending. This meeting will be from 7pm to 8pm. A ballot will be taken following discussions on the motion.

'After Show Meeting' - From 8pm onwards the meeting will concentrate on discussing the outcome of the August 22 Annual Show. Suggestions are welcome on its merits and failures and how best to improve the show for the 65th anniversary in 2016.

At an interval light refreshments will be available.

Hoping there will be a full attendance,

Eamonn Butler, Chairman

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Bunclody Show & Garden Competition Results 2015

All the results for this years Bunclody Show & Garden Competition can be viewed or downloaded by clicking on the link below:
Bunclody Horticultural Show & Garden Competition Results 2015

Tuesday 25 August 2015

Annual Show 2015

Thank you to everyone who helped with the organisation and setting up of the Show, and thank you to everyone who entered. A big thank you as well to Jay Murphy for the use of the College and all the help he gave us on the day. You all made the Show the success that it was. All results for all Show classes and the Garden Competition will be available here in the next few days. Here are a few photos of the Show.



















Monday 13 July 2015

Open Garden & Plant Sale - Sunday 16th August


Margaret Kirk, the Society's President is holding an Open Garden & Plant Sale at her home in Tomadilly, near Marshalstown on Sunday 16th August from 11.00am - 5.00pm. This is a great opportunity to look around and enjoy Margaret's wonderful gardens and to buy plants in aid of two very worthy charities, Bunclody Day Care Centre and The Alzheimers Society of Ireland.
Tea, coffee & refreshments will be available and whilst there will be no entry fee, donations to the two charities above will be gratefully accepted.

Directions & full details are available by clicking on the following link:
Open Garden & Plant Sale, Tomadilly, Sunday 16th August, 11.00am - 5.00pm

Thursday 9 July 2015

Rose Budding Demonstration & Talk - Rearranged Date

The talk and demonstration by Fr Jim Gahan that should have taken place on 9th July but had to be postponed owing to flooding in the library has been rescheduled.
The talk will now take place in Bunclody Library on Thursday 23rd July at 7.00pm. Anyone who has been to one of Fr Jim's talks before will not want to miss this one either. Jim has a wealth of knowledge that he imparts in his own humorous style.

Bunclody Horticultural Show 2015 - Schedule

The schedule for the 2015 Bunclody Horticultural Show can be viewed/downloaded here

Thursday 11 June 2015

Templeshanbo Flower Festival+3 Open Gardens, 26th-28th June

Member Philip Hollwey, Rachel Darlington & Walter Kelly have linked up to open their gardens in conjunction with the Templeshanbo Flower Festival, that takes place 26th - 28th June.
Details of locations, directions, opening times etc are set out below. This promises to be an excellent weekend, right on our doorsteps.

DIRECTIONS
TO PHILIP HOLLWEY’S GARDEN (Sat 27th, Sun 28th, 2-6pm)
Dublin-Ferns on the N11 and then to Clohamon or N80 south from Bunclody to Clohamon.

Cross the R Slaney and onto the N80 then immediate left uphill onto the R2007, signed for Kilmyshall/Templeshanbo. 2 km straight up the hill into Kilmyshall bear left at the pump and out past the church.
2km out, just past ‘Larchview House’ on the left, my neighbour’s trees meet in a little tunnel over the road and the cottage is on the right on the bend. It’s not a good bend, so you might be better to park under my neighbour’s trees!
TO RACHEL DARLINGTON’S FROM BUNCLODY (Sat 27th, Sun 28th, 2-6pm)
1) Take the Carnew Road (long road containing a 'Welcome to Wicklow' sign - watch out for
how it forks - stay on the Carnew Road)
2) Turn right at the 'Kilrush/Ferns' sign post on that road (just before Carnew) 3) Take the 2nd left
4) 4th house on the right, named
‘Douentza’
WALTER KELLY’S GARDEN AT TOMBRICK. (Sun 28th, 2-6pm)
One mile north of Ballycarney, on the N11 (about 3 miles south of Clohamon), a bungalow on an elevated site just off the road. (A neighbouring property has plum/purple boundary walls).
ST COLEMAN’S, TEMPLESHANBO. (Fri 26th, Sat27th, 11-9pm. Sun 28th, 1-6pm)
Follow the directions for Philip Hollwey’s garden above and continue on for about 3 miles
and the church is at a junction on the right. OR
West from Ballycarney, on the R745, after about 5 miles, turn right in Ballindaggan village and the church is about a mile out of the village. 


Wednesday 3 June 2015

Garden Competition Poster - Spread the Word!!


Friday 29 May 2015

Garden Competition Entry Forms Now Available

The entry forms for this years garden Competition is now available. Forms are available from Redmond's shop, Main St, Bunclody, or can be downloaded here

Thursday 23 April 2015

Plant Sale, Saturday 9th May


Monday 2 March 2015

March Newsletter

The March Newsletter is now available to download here

Saturday 31 January 2015

Table Quiz, Friday 6th February, 8.00pm - Redmonds

We are holding another Table Quiz in Redmonds on Friday 6th February at 8.00pm. Usual format, general knowledge, picture rounds, dingbats, Eggheads with new music rounds, name the song, name the artist. Great prizes. Table of 4, €20

Bloom in the Phoenix Park, Dublin 30th May - 3rd June 2015 Voluntary Stewards

Members may be interested in helping out at Bloom as a Steward, for a day, or the duration of the show. The application form, that must be completed and submitted prior to the event, can be downloaded from here: http://www.bordbia.ie/eventsnews/events/pages/EventDetail.aspx?ID=167