Bunclody Horticultural Society

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. 2005 has been an interesting and successful year for the Society. Hopefully, 2006, if not better, will be just as enjoyable.

By the end of 2005 paid-up membership had increased to almost 50. I would like to welcome back everyone and especially our new members. Hopefully many more enthusiasts will join our ranks . . . Eamonn

President: Erika Marten; Vice-President: Marie Granger;
Chairperson: Eamonn Butler; Vice-Chair Maureen Behan
Secretary: no nominations;
Bernadette Clarke will continue as pro-tem Minutes Secretary.
Treasurer: Tom Clarke; Asst Treas: Martha Dunne
PRO: Rita Butler; Asst PRO: Theresa Murphy

Committee: Nan Kelly, Helen Battigan, Carol Robb, Catherine O'Neill, Mary Cullen, Helena Byrne, Mary Grennan, Nancy Kehoe, Irene and James Kavanagh.

At the November AGM a sub-committee was elected to bring forward proposals to help the Annual Show become more efficient; making better use of space for displays, etc. Suggestions made by committee, members and participants at show are being discussed.

Members elected onto Show sub-committee: Erika Marten; Helen Battigan; Maureen Behan; Nan Kelly; Tom Clarke and Catherine O'Neill

A motion was passed to award Life Membership to long-serving members, Sadie Moulton and Michael Donohoe. Sadie and Michael have long been a part of the Society's history and have helped the continued development of the Annual Horticultural Show. The meeting expressed their thanks to Sadie and Michael.

A proposal to affiliate to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHSI) was adopted. This will take effect from January 1, 2006.

In lieu of Michael Kehoe taking any payment for use of Meadowlands for the Show a donation of ?100 was made towards the Burkina Faso Project.

Very enjoyable and informative was the general opinions of a good attendance at Frances McDonald's slide show and talk, 'Stealing from Gardens' held on November 21, 2005.

FLOWER ARRANGEMENT DEMONSTRATION on Thursday, December 8, last, proved very successful. Thanks goes to Helen Battigan for organising the event and to Leola O'Reilly for presenting the demonstration and Nancy Keogh, who along with Helen assisted Leola.

At the AGM a motion was adapted to increase subscriptions for 2006 to ?10 per person; and ?15 per couple. Subscriptions are due from beginning of January 1st. Payment can be made to Tom Clarke, Treasurer, Ballyroebuck, Kilrush, to any committee member, or through Redmonds Shop, Main St, Bunclody who have kindly agreed to allow us to use their shop as a 'drop' centre. (please include name, and if a new member, your address and contact phone number). Otherwise, as all members are welcome to attend meetings, payment can be made then . . . When the next committee meeting will be . . .

COMMITTEE MEETING: Monday, January 23, 2006, 8pm, Redmonds Lounge.

Agenda:

Minutes; Correspondence; Treasurers report; Position of Secretary; Show committee update;

Proposed Events for 2006

Set calendar of garden visits, lectures, workshops, demonstrations, etc, eg:

From the Chair:

a May plant sale and flower arranging competition. The 2005 event was quite successful. Money made was not great by any means but it did engender tremendous interest in the society and its aims in encouraging an interest in horticulture, and it was more a social occasion.

Garden visits: We have long pursued the exotic in gardens outside out community, and most enjoyable they have been too. This year, perhaps, we can concentrate a little more on members' gardens. Many of our members have wonderful gardens into which they have put a lot of work. So let us enjoy what we have and if members are in agreement we could enjoy Spring, Summer, Autumn and even Winter garden visits without having to travel very far. With this in mind any member who would like to show their gardens as an informal and social day out please contact me, Eamonn, 054 76908.

President's Day: Erika Marten, re-elected President, has proposed that we repeat last year's success in her garden. June is the most likely time this will take place.

Botanic Gardens, Dublin: Up for discussion will be a trip (possibly July) for a guided tour of the Botanical gardens of Dublin. These gardens have a long history with the development of plants and the discovery of many species now common to our flower beds and shrubberies. .

As times, dates, etc, are agreed upon information will be published in local newspapers: the Echo, Guardian, Nationalist; also in local parish newsletters and their websites. Many thanks goes to these newspapers and websites for their support over the year, especially to Walter Skelton who has downloaded many photographs of the Show.

Floral arrangement classes: Fergus Hemmingway has agreed to conduct classes for beginners, intermediary or advanced. Feedback from interested members and non-members is essential. Cost would be approximately ?60 to ?70 euro per person, depending on size of class. Flowers, oases and saucers included. Phone Rita 054 76908.

Perpetual Awards and Prizes 2005

GARDEN SECTION - The Becker Perpetual Cup, Walter Kelly

HANGING BASKETS/WINDOW BOXES- The Rory Murphy Perpetual Trophy, Mary Conway

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS - Bank of Ireland Cup, Helen Lucas

AGRI PRODUCE - The Thomas Deacon Trophy, Bertie Warren

CRAFTS, SENIOR - AIB Perpetual Cup, Carol Robb

FRUIT - Weston Perpetual Trophy, Erika Marten

VEG - W Hemingway Perpetual Trophy Matt O'Leary

UNCOMMON FRUIT/VEG - The Erika Marten Perpetual Trophy, Lynne Crowe

HANDWRITING, JUNIOR - Eileen Black Perpetual Cup, Ben Jacob

HOME & DAIRY - The Austin Gilbert Cup, Dorothy Warren

FRUIT -The Collier Cup, Michael Donohue

ROSE OF THE SHOW - The Conway Cup, Rita Cahill

FLOWERS - The Society's Cup, Jack Whyte

PHOTOGRAPHY - The Society's Cup, Elaine Burns

VEGETABLES - The Society's Cup, Thomas Carroll

HOME & DAIRY - The Society's Cup, Dorothy Warren

The Lucretta Collier Cup, Patricia Cahill

ART - The Mary Wall-Reck Perpetual Trophy, John Johnson

HONEY - The Joe Anderson Cup, William Binnions

MOST MERITORIOUS EXHIBIT

The Riverview Cup, Carol Robb

The G T Lewis Cup, Mary Gilsenen

JUNIOR FLORAL ART - The J Kavanagh Cup, Zachary Darlington;

CRAFTS, JUNIOR - The T J Collier Cup, Zachary Darlington

Local Schools’ Section

Prize winners 2005

Short Story Competition

Kilmyshall NS - 3rd class: 1, Rebecca Murphy; 2, Paul Connell; HC, Niamh Murphy. 4th class: 1, Jodie Martin; 2, Aisling Donohoe.

Kildavin NS - 3rd class: 1, Andrew Davies; 2, James Murphy; HC, Daniel Murphy. 4th class: 1, Michael Kirwan; 2, Karen Lynch; HC, Gary Coleman.

Clohamon NS - 3rd class: 1, Casey Raleigh; 2, Shannon Doherty. 44th class, 1, Seamus Kennedy; 2, Barbara Ann Clarke.

Overall Best 3rd Class: Andrew Davies, Kildavin NS.

Overall Best 4th Class: Michael Kirwan, Kildavin NS.

Art

Kilmyshall NS - Junior infants: 1, Rebecca Murphy. Senior Infants: 1, Roisin Kelly; 2, Laurence Dunne. HC, James Sheridan. 5th Class: 1, Jamie Murphy; 2, Amy Stretch. 6th Class: 1, Rachel Martin; 2, Katie McGannon. HC, Orla donohoe.

Kildavin NS - Junior Infants: 1, Morgan Deane; 2, Katie Roberts; HC, Sophie O’Leary. Senior Infants: 1, Sasha Dunne; 2, Kerri O’Leary; HC, Rosemary Smyth. 5th Class: 1, Edward O’Leary; 2, Amy Corkery; HC, Shauna Daly. 6th, 1, Rebecca Ryan; 2, Daryl Roberts; HC, John Fagan.

Clohamon NS - Junior Infants; 1, William Dunne; 2, Kieran Kenny. Senior Infants: 1, Garry Murphy; 2, Gearoid Redmond. HC, Shannon Redmond. 5th Class, 1, tony Raleigh; 2, Myles (‘Connor; HC, Richard Murphy. 6th Class: 1, Brian Kennedy; 2, Maria Pettit; HC, Kelly Raleigh.

Clonegal NS - 5th Class: 1, Jason Darcy; 2, Emily Hutt; HC, Jemma Sheil; 6th Class: 1, Neale rooney; 2, Conor Kelly; HC, Dermot Foley.

Overall Best in Junior Infants: Morgan Deane, Kildavin NS.

Overall Best in Senior Infants: Sasha dunne, Kildavin NS.

Overall Best in Fifth Class: Jason Darcy, Clonegal NS.

Overall Best in Sixth Class: Neale Rooney, Clonegal NS.

 Handwriting

Kilyshall NS - 1st Class: 1, Mairead Dune; 2, Diarmuid Crean; HC, Edel Crean. 2nd Class: 1, Kyra Redmond; 2, Max O’Neill; HC, Anna Kenny.

Kildavin NS - 1st Class: 1, Roisin Geradi; 2, Rachel Coleman; HC, Brian Hancock. 2nd Class: 1, Daniel Maguire; 2, Amie gerardi; HC, Deirdre Kirwan.

Clohamon NS - 1st Class: 1, Eilish O’Connor; 2, terry Doherty. 2nd Class: 1, Shauna Redmond; 2, Frank Corrigan.

Overall Best in 1st Class: Mairead Dunne, Kilmyshall NS.

Overall Best in 2nd Class: Kyra Redmond, Kilmyshall NS.

.............................................................................

The show was immensely successful. By making use of the  outside covered area more space was made available for all classes. The new section on uncommon fruit and veg proved to be very popular. This is the first time this section was run and made for very colourful exhibits. Many positive comments were made about the show, and in general, I think,  everyone was pleased, and made for a good day out.

President Erika Marten provided the trophy for the uncommon fruit and veg section.

Another new trophy was the Rory Murphy Perpetual Trophy. The family of Rory Murphy, so deeply involved himself in keeping the horticultural society alive, was a wonderful handmade goblet.

People we would like to thank particularly are, of course, our sponsors and advertisers who make this a successful commercial venture. We, at least, usually break even, and with the success of the show this year we should easily do that.

Particular thanks goes to Michael Kehoe, proprietor of Meadowlands, who contributed so much to make the show a success. As well as providing the venue, the electricity, the kitchen utensils, he got quite involved on the day. Helping to lug tables around, making sure the lighting was improved, and providing a dry shirt for the Chairman, who was drenched following a shower while covering the car park.

Liam O'Leary also made a major contribution by providing car park facilities. The Bunclody Fire Brigade were also gracious in their consent for use of their area.

The Bunclody WFC made an invaluable contribution by providing the boards which acted as table tops and for hanging art, photography and the children's section.

Of course, the committee, members and friends all came together and worked so hard before and after the show. It is probably not realised how hard our committee work, long beforehand. Helene Byrne, treasurer, and Helen Battigan, show secretary, conducted a very smooth operation. If there were hitches, none were evident. Special thanks also go to our President Erika Marten, who showed the qualities of true leadership by becoming so deeply involved.

Obviously, it is difficult to thank everyone, and not enough space would be available to do justice to the many people who helped out.

*The society tour of Newtownbarry House and Gardens, last Sunday, conducted by Tommy Sheehan, was brilliantly successful. About 35-40 people came along. Very few people had realised what a wonderful residence Newtownbarry House is. The restored sunken garden also delighted members of the society.

**The next committee will be held in two weeks time. Members are asked to watch Echo notes for date and time. The committee would also be pleased were all our helpers come along and join us following the meeting.

***Paul Cutler of Altamont Gardens will be on hand on October 4th to talk on bulbs - spring planting, container bulb designs, and will include a slide show.

Phone number………………………………...........email………………………………....