Balbriggan & District Horticultural Society
6 Seapoint
Balbriggan
8412082

BALBRIGGAN AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Gardening Talks 2008/09 Scout Den, Market Green, Balbriggan. 8.30pm Thursday 20th November Creating a Colourful Garden * by Dominica McKevitt, Head gardener, Ardgillan Park Thursday 11th Dec. Christmas Flowering Arranging Thursday 22nd January Table Quiz from The Irish Garden magazine Thursday 19th February Organic Gardening * by Kathryn Marsh, former member of Board of Organic Trust, manages the organic garden at Sonairte (the National Ecology Centre), and been a member of the GMO advisory committee of the EPA. Thursday 19th March Alpine & Rockery plants suitable for small gardens * by Paul Maher, Curator, National Botanic Gardens All talks start at 8.30pm and are followed by a cup of tea when speakers are often willing to go on answering questions! * Entrance to these talks €2, other events as announced.

BALBRIGGAN AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Balbriggan and District Horticultural Society was formed in the late 1800s or early 1900s. The original Patrons were Lord Holmpatrick and Lord Gormanston and the Annual Show was held in Skerries and Balbriggan in alternate years. The Balbriggan Show used to be held in the Silverbeach Ballroom in Gormanston. So great was the occasion that the Brass and Reed Band played at it. They assembled in the square, marched to the Railway Station. Examples of classes in the Show Schedule included Hedge Layering, Duck eggs brown and Duck eggs white: some of the produce and activities of gardens of the period. More recently the show moved to the Town Hall in the Square. In the early Town Hall days a wire mesh was erected in front of the exhibit, so exhibits must have been tempting. There are now two Shows annually: The Rose Show in Ardgillan Castle on the 1st. Sunday in July and The ‘Flower Show’ which is actually a competition and general Show of many of the activities and products associated with gardening. There are Sections for Flowers, Pot Plants, Vegetables, Flower Arranging and Photography. There are opportunities for children to display creativity associated with plants. This show is held in the Community College Gym. on the 1st Sunday in September. During the main gardening months only the committee need to meet but during the winter there are monthly talks on Garden Topics. These are held in the Scout Den on Market Square, near Lidl, normally on the 3rd Thursday of the month ALL ARE WELCOME. Look out for advertisements on Posters, Church Bulletin, Fingal Independent and this website. Enquiries about membership to May Curtis Tel 8412060.

Balbriggan and District Horticultural Society

Award Winners at our Annual Show 7 September 2008

Section A – Flowers.

Father Hassett Cup.
Best Gladioli Exhibit Class 13. D. Cairns. Malahide.

Mark Sheehy Trophy.
Best Exhibit Classes 18-19. Pat Curtis. Balbriggan.

Gladiolus Silver Medal.
Best Exhibit in Gladioli. Michael O`Connor. Balbriggan.

Gladiolus Bronze Medal.
Best Gladioli Spike. Michael O`Connor. Balbriggan.

Section B – Roses.

Rose Society Bronze Medal.
Best Exhibit Classes 25 – 31. Brian Kerr. Dundalk.

The Des Kenny Memorial Trophy.
Best Bloom. Brian Kerr. Dundalk.

The Bill Chase Memorial Cup.
Best Floribunda Exhibit. Brian Kerr. Dundalk.

Section C – Dahlias.

National Dahlia Silver Medal.
Best Exhibit Section –C. Patsy McGuinness. Athboy

National Dahlia Bronze Medal.
Runner up to Best Exhibit. Patsy McGuinness. Athboy

Bill Chase Memorial Trophy. Patsy McGuinness. Athboy

Section D – Dahlias.

Bowden Cup.
Best Exhibit Section D. John Warren. Malahide

Section E – Floral Art.

Taaffe Trophy.
Best Exhibit Classes 54 – 57 Christopher White. Naul.

Section F – Pot Plants.

Maurice McAuley Cup.
Best Exhibit Section F. Pat Curtis. Balbriggan.

Section G - Vegetables.

Balbriggan Town Council Award.
Best Exhibit Classes 69 – 94. Chris McAleer. Balbriggan.

Lightfoot Cup.
Best Truss Tomatoes. John Warren. Malahide.

Luke White Shield.
Best Exhibit Class 75. Chris McAleer. Balbriggan.

Pat Gilsenan Trophy.
Best Exhibit Class 69. B. Connolly. Swords.

Section H - Fruit.

Milestone Cup.
Best Exhibit. Alfred Woods. Duleek.

Section I - Photography.

B.H.S. Trophy.
Best Exhibit Classes 106 – 112. P. Curtis. Balbriggan.

Juvenile Section.

Wendy Walsh Junior Art Cup.
Best Exhibit Class 126. Shona McMahon. Castleblaney.

We Wish to thank all the Exhibitors and Helpers that made our show possible.
Our Series of Winter Talks will commence in November 2008 and every Month to March 2009 information on www.balbriggan.net and in Library and local Shops.