Green fingers at roots of success for garden club

Mullingar and District Gardening Club annual flower show

Mullingar and District Gardening Club held its annual flower show on Saturday last, August 16, at the Parish Community Centre, Bishopsgate Street. Lady Luck shone on the occasion, as the day was warm and balmy, and the recent fine weather helped gardens that had been trounced by winds earlier in July. There was fine attendance on the day, and sincere thanks goes to all the exhibitors, many of them first-time entrants.

Nine people took away silverware in the major awards categories, among them eight-year-old Eddie Jordan, whose window box earned him the The Kathleen Dunne Memorial Cup for the best exhibit by a first-time entrant.

A new award this year is a beautiful cup presented in memory of a dedicated club member, the late Diane Miller. It was donated by her husband David, who presented it to the winner Ann Russell in Class 75, an exhibit for a church.

A medal for the best exhibit in the fruit and vegetable classes went to Yvonne and Ollie Dooner for their fine courgette exhibit. The Mullingar Gardening Club shield for best exhibit in the show went to Hilda Reid for her flowering pot plant.

The best exhibit in the rose section was won by Geraldine Rabbitte. The Ann O’Sullivan cup was won by Ann Russell for the best exhibit in Flower Arranging. The Brady family cup went to Ann Byrne for the best Exhibit in Preserves.

The Noreen Clarke cup was won by Betty Mimnagh Dunne for Photography. The Danny Dunne Cup went to Christina Smith for the highest number of points in the fruit and vegetable classes.

The overall winner and show champion 2025 for the fifth time was Danny Dunne.

It was an entertaining afternoon, and the club are extremely grateful to the staff of the community centre for use of their facilities. Sincere thanks as well to the judges in the various classes. It was a daunting task for them, as there was such a high standard and range of exhibits on display.

Club meetings

The next club meeting is on Thursday September 18 (third Thursday each month) in the Bridge Centre, Bellview at 8pm. There will be a plant sale and raffle that night.

Mullingar and District Gardening Club welcome new members all the time. Go along and join in.

Mullingar and District Gardening Club, winners 2025

1. Potterton Trophy for the best exhibit in the Dahlia Classes; winner, Danny Dunne, Catherinestown, Gaybrook, Mullingar.

2. Ben Lambden Memorial Trophy for the best exhibit in the Fuchsia Classes; winner, Danny Dunne.

3. Midland Perpetual trophy for the best exhibit in the geranium/pelargonium classes; winner, Yvonne and Ollie Dooner, Ballymore.

4. Keenan O’Connor perpetual Trophy for the best exhibit for hanging baskets; winner, Danny Dunne.

5. Geraldine Rabbitte trophy for the best exhibit in the rose section; winner, Geraldine Rabbitte, Curraghmore, Mullingar.

6. Award for the best exhibit in the children’s classes; winner, Hazel Smyth, 16, Newtown Lawns, Mullingar.

7. Diane Miller Memorial cup for class 75, the best flower arrangement for a church, winner. Ann Russell, Galmoylestown, Mullingar.

8. Ann O’Sullivan cup for the best exhibit in flower arranging; winner, Ann Russell.

9. Medal for the best exhibit in the fruit and vegetable classes; winner, Yvonne and Ollie Dooner.

10. Noreen Clarke Perpetual Trophy for the best exhibit in the photography section, winner, Betty Mimnagh Dunne, Catherinestown, Gaybrook, Mullingar.

11. Evelyn Sherwin Cup for the best exhibit in classes 2-5, cacti and succulents; winner, Danny Dunne.

12. Fred Carter Shield for the best exhibit in sweetpeas; winner, Ann Russell.

13. Danny Dunne Cup for the winner of the highest number of points in fruit and vegetables; winner, Christina Smyth, Gainstown, Gaybrook, Mullingar.

14. Mullingar Gardening Club Shield for competitor with the best exhibit in the show, winner, Hilda Reid, Friarstown, Dalystown, Mullingar.

15. Brady family perpetual trophy for the best exhibit in preserves and Jams ; winner, Ann Byrne, Castlelost Road, Rochfortbridge. .

16. Kathleen Dunne Memorial Shield, for the best exhibit by a first-time entrant, winner, Eddie Jordan, Killucan.

17. In third place with a total of 42 points, and wins the Joe Daly Memorial Trophy, Yvonne and Ollie Dooner.

18. In second place with a total of 150 points, and wins the Model Garden Trophy, Christina Smyth.

19. In first place with a total of 230 points, overall winner of the Bank of Ireland Perpetual Trophy and show champion for 2025, Christina Smyth.

Class winners

1. Cactus-one pot, 1st and 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Christina Smyth.

2. Succulent-one pot, 1st and 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Ollie Dooner.

3. Cactus 10cm or under, 1st and 2nd Danny Dunne

4. Succulent 10cm or under, 1st and 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Christina Smyth.

5. Annuals 6 Blooms one Variety, 1st Betty Mimnagh Dunne, 2nd Amanda Smyth, Legar, Kinnegad, 3rd Ann Raleigh.

6. Cut Flowers, 1st and 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Anne Raleigh, Pigeon Park, Mount Lucas.

7 Dahlias- 3 decorative, 1st Danny Dunne, 2nd Agnes Moore, Tullaghan, Mullingar, 3rd Christina Smyth.

8. Dahlias- 3 cactus or Semi-cactus, 1st Christina Smyth, 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Agnes Moore. 9. Dahlias - 3 pom pom, 1st and 2nd Christina Smyth, 3rd Agnes Moore. 10. Dahlias 5 blooms, Any colour, 1st Danny Dunne, 2nd Amanda Smyth, 3rd Christina Smyth.

11. Dahlias one vase of three blooms any other variety, 1st and 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Christina Smyth.

12. Fuchsia- one pot 16 cm or under, 1st Christina Smyth, 2nd Jean O’ Donovan, 3rd Danny Dunne.

13. Fuchsia over 16 cm, 1st and 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Christina Smyth.

14. Geraniums/Pelargonium, 16cm or under, 1st Christina Smyth, 2nd and 3rd Danny Dunne.

15. Geraniums/Pelargonium, Over 16 cm, 1st Yvonne and Ollie Dooner, 2nd and 3rd Danny Dunne.

16. Scented geranium one pot, 1st Christina Smyth, 2nd and 3rd Danny Dunne.

17. Gladioli, one stem, any variety, 1st Ann Russell, 2nd.Agnes Moore, 3rd Geraldine Rabbitte.

18. Pansies 6 blooms one variety, 1st and 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Agnes Moore.

19. Hanging basket, 1st Danny Dunne, 2nd Eddie Jordan, 3rd Sarah Pringle, Spindle Cottage, Clonkill.

20. Window Box, 1st Eddie Jordan, 2nd Mary P Farrell, Catherinestown, Gaybrook, 3rd Christina Smyth.

21. Roses-one Hybrid T, 1st and 2nd Geraldine Rabbitte, 3rd Kathleen Mimnagh, Catherinestown, Gaybrook.

22. Roses, one spray of Floribunda, 1st and 3rd Geraldine Rabbitte, 2nd Amanda Smyth.

23. Roses-Vase of three hybrid tea roses, 1st and 2nd Geraldine Rabbitte, 3rd Christina Smyth.

24. Shrubs-Hydrangea one bloom, 1st Lil Pilkington, Canal View, Daingean, 2nd Ann Russell, 3rd Eddie Jordan.

25. One spray of Flowering Shrub excluding Hydrangea, 1st Anne Raleigh, 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Christina Smyth.

26. Sweetpea 6 stems, 1st Ann Russell, 2nd Betty Mimnagh Dunne, 3rd Christina Smyth.

27. Scented flowers. Lily one bloom, 1st Geraldine Rabbitte, 2nd Agnes Moore, 3rd Christina Smyth.

28. Scented flowers, Rose one bloom, 1st Danny Dunne, 2nd Christina Smyth, 3rd Bernadette Cleary.

29. Scented Flower, one flower or stem, excluding Lily, 1st and 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Geraldine Rabbitte.

30. Pot Plant, Begonia in Bloom, 16cm pot or under, one plant per pot, 1st and 2nd Danny Dunne.

31. Pot plant, begonias in bloom, one plant per pot, over 16cm, 1st and 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Christina Smyth.

32. Pot plant in bloom, One plant per pot, 16 cm pot or under, 1st Hilda Reid, 2nd Danny Reid, 3. Christina Smyth.

33. Pot plant in bloom, One plant per pot, over 16 cm, 1st Danny Dunne, 2nd and 3rd Christina Smyth.

34. Pot Plant, one plant per pot. Foliage only. 16 cm pot or under, 1st Danny Dunne, 2nd and 3rd Christina Smyth.

35. Pot Plant, one plant per pot. Foliage only over 15 cm, 1st and 2nd Helen Reynolds, 3rd Christina Smyth.

38 A drawing using pencils or colouring pencils of my pet in the garden, 8 years and under, 1st Hazel Smyth.

40 A drawing or painting of a hanging basket, 8 years and under, 1st Hazel Smyth

Preserves

42. Blackcurrant Jam, 1st Christina Smyth, 2nd Yvonne and Ollie Dooner, 3rd Anne Raleigh.

43. Jam, Berry fruits, 1st Ann Byrne, 2nd Marie Nolan, Gainstown, 3rd Nora Ryan, Vilanstown, Gaybrook.

44. Jam, any other variety, 1st Mary P. Farrell, 2nd Nora Ryan, 3rd Agnes Moore.

45. Marmalade, any Variety, 1st Ann Gilsenan, Glenmore Wood, Mullingar, 2nd Marie Nolan, 3rd Yvonne and Ollie Dooner.

46. Chutney-any variety, 1st Christina Smyth, 2nd Mary P. Farrell, 3rd Agnes Moore.

47. Cordial, bottle of Summer Fruit Cordial, 1st and 2nd Ann Russell, 3rd Betty Mimnagh Dunne.

48. Photography, Biodiversity in the garden, 1st and 2nd Betty Mimnagh Dunne, 3rd Marie Nolan.

49. Photography -A beautiful single bloom, 1st and 2nd Sarah Pringle, 2nd Sarah Pringle, 3rd Betty Mimnagh Dunne.

50. 3 Cooking apples, 1st Ann Tyrrell, Walshestown, 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Nora Ryan.

51. 3 Dessert Apples, 1st Christina Smyth, 2nd Agnes Moore, 3rd Ann Byrne.

52. 3 Runner Beans, 1st and 3rd Danny Dunne, 2nd Sarah Pringle.

53. 3 Beetroot on a plate, 1st Eddie Jordan, 2nd Sarah Pringle, 3rd Christina Smyth.

54. Cabbage, one head, 1st Ann Russell, 2nd Ann Byrne, 3rd Christina Smyth.

55. Carrots, three on a plate, 1st Yvonne and Ollie Dooner, 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Eddie Jordan.

56. Cucumber, one cucumber, 1st Jean Donovan, Petitswood Manor, Mullingar, 2nd Yvonne and Ollie Dooner, 3rd Christina Smyth.

57. Six scallions on a plate, 1st and 2nd Christina Smyth.

58. One vegetable marrow, 1st and 2nd Christina Smyth, 3rd Yvonne and Ollie Dooner.

59. Courgettes, three on a plate, 1st Yvonne and Ollie Dooner, 2nd Danny Dunne, 3rd Christina Smyth.

60. Onions, 3 on a plate, 1st Christina Smyth, 2nd Yvonne and Ollie Dooner, 3rd Danny Dunne.

61. 6 shallots on a plate, 1st and 2nd Christina Smyth, 3rd Danny Dunne.

62 Peas, six pods of mange-tout on a plate, 1st Danny Dunne, 2nd Jean Donovan

63. Peas, six pods on a plate, 1st Sarah Pringle, 2nd and 3rd Danny Dunne.

64. Potatoes, three on a plate, white, and named variety, 1st and 2nd Christina Smyth, 3rd Sarah Pringle.

65 Potatoes, three red/coloured on a plate, named variety, 1st and 2nd Christina Smyth, 3rd Danny Dunne.

66. Three tomatoes on a plate, 1st Christina Smyth, 2nd and 3rd Danny Dunne.

67. Tomato, six cherry type on a plate, 1st Danny Dunne, 2nd Yvonne and Ollie Dooner, 3rd Christina Smyth.

68 Parsley, six stems in a jar, 1st Nora Ryan, 2nd and 3rd Danny Dunne.

69. Culinary Herbs, collection of four varieties, four stems of each variety, 1st Danny Dunne, 2nd and 3rd Christina Smyth.

70. Collection of four vegetables, three of each variety, 1st and 2nd Christina Smyth.

71. A petite exhibit in a container of your choice, max size in any direction 25cm, 1st Ann Tyrrell, 2nd Bernadette Cleary, 3rd Helen Reynolds.

72. A circular exhibit to be viewed all round to contain fruit and vegetables (max 60cm wide), 1st Ann Russell.

75. An arrangement for a church containing flowers and foliage, not to exceed 75cm wide, 1st Ann Russell, 2nd Bernadette Cleary.