Green fingers in Ballinagh

All garden enthusiasts are welcome to Ballinagh Gardening Club, which continues to grow in popularity since it began in 1991.

Whether you like to grow flowers, fruits or vegetables, there is advice and friendly competition galore at the club.

At their monthly Monday night meetings, a guest speaker attends to speak about their growing methods and to take questions from the audience. Knowing that some members are just as knowledgeable, the club sometimes hosts a Q and A session among their members. With a raffle at every meeting, members can sit back and chat about their favourite hobby.

“Nearly everybody that’s a member makes some attempt [at gardening]; a few pots around the front door,” she said.

Each night sees about forty members attend each meeting, with not all the same attendees attending each night.

“We invite speakers mostly from other gardening centres or if we hear of somebody who has a particular interest, they don’t have to own a garden,” Assistant Treasurer Isobel Lord outlined.

“We’ve some very knowledgeable members that go on a panel and speak.”

Speaking for around one hour, afterwards is “a very popular time” where members can go up and ask for advice.

“Most of our speakers would verge onto the organic style of gardening if you like, we try to encourage people to use a no dig method for growing vegetables.

“It varies, sometimes it’s about vegetable growing and sometimes it’s just about flowers and bulbs and things,” she said, adding that they also host talks on how to propagate plants, checking soils, nutrients and PH levels, fertilisers and more.

They also have an annual show near the end of August where everybody is encouraged to bring their “best” flowers or vegetables for a competition.

At Christmas, they do flower arranging and this year two bus loads also went on a day trip to the Galway Christmas Markets. They also host other outings to gardens around the country and have a meal together on the way home.

Meetings take place in Ballintemple Hall at 8pm on the first Monday of every month. On Bank Holidays, meetings take place on the second Monday. The club encourage new members to join, with Isobel adding that there is a “big social element” each night with raffles, tea and biscuits.

“Everybody is welcome, you just come along and pay your membership on the night.”