Pat brings home gold once again

The green-fingered Milltownpass gardener Pat Maguire won first places in the horticulture competition at the Mullingar show on Sunday, July 12.

Pat took first in the potato and rhubarb categories and is delighted with his results. He’s been taking part in these competitions for around 40 years.

"It’s hard to win, because it’s a good competition – the rhubarb was very good," said Pat on Monday morning.

Pat is also preparing entries for Tullamore Show, where he has enjoyed success many times.

"I do have lovely dahlias for Tullamore, and I hope to have good potatoes for it. They’re coming on well, I won’t have them for another month. I hope to God to have them ready now for Tullamore."

Tullamore isn’t the last stop on Pat’s competition calendar. "There’s one in Trim, I’ll be going there and I’ll be going to North Dublin as well."

In four decades, Pat has competed in various horticultural classes and taken many wins. Gardening is as natural to him as breathing and he confirms that when he says: "I couldn’t be sitting in. I have to be doing something in the garden."

When asked if he ever gets pestered to reveal the secret of his green fingers, he laughed.

"Dig a hole, put them (the plant) in, give them water, and let them off."