Local club saying it with flowers

They’re a passionate gang, the gardeners of Mullingar; busy now ensuring their blooms don’t mature too soon; primping and staking plants; manipulating nature so what they want to have ready for the annual Mullingar and District Gardening Club show will be at its best at the right moment.
This year’s show is on Saturday August 15, and as has been the case for the last seven or eight years, it’s taking place at O’Meara’s Garden Centre in Gaybrook.
“We’ll be out there the day before getting things ready,” says Danny Dunne, one of those on the Gardening Club’s sub-committee that runs the annual flower show.
Danny has an interest in the event from “both sides” so to speak, being not just on the organising team, but also one of the up to 25 people who will be vying for the overall title, which he has already taken once – although that was, he says, 15 years ago.
It’s a highlight on the calendar of the 37-year-old club, which has a membership of about 60.
“It’s open to non-members, so you’d have people travelling to take part in it,” says Danny.
Most eye-catching of all the classes are those for flower arrangements.
“The people who exhibit there are very talented,” he says, describing the creations as works of art.
“Then, of course, the dahlia classes are to a high standard.”
The classes aren’t just for flowers and pot plants, however: there are vegetable classes, there are preserves categories, “becoming very popular”, says Danny; and there are photography classes.
The entrants have a window of a couple of hours on Saturday to get their produce displayed, and then the judges swing into action.
“The judging lasts from around 11am to about 1.30,” says Danny, explaining that six points are awarded for first place; four for a second and two for a third. The various awards are then granted on the basis of an entrant’s performance in particular classes.
The judges are people not associated with the club – but either way, since entries are displayed only with an identifying number and not a name, there is no chance of favouritism.
“At the end of the day, the person with the highest overall number of points is the overall winner.”
No one enters to get rich: the prizes per class are €2, €1.50 and €1; the entry fee is 50 cents.
“I’d hope to about cover myself,” laughs Danny.
The club doesn’t charge members of the public attending the show, but at the end of the day, some of the flowers, fruit and vegetables are auctioned off, and there is a raffle, all to help the club with its running costs.
It’s a great way to spend an hour or two, and all in lovely surroundings.
The public is welcome from 2pm, and the prize-giving starts at around 4pm.
• Mullingar and District Gardening Club annual Flower Show O’Meara’s, Gaybrook, 2pm.