Jobstown native blooming delighted with Super Garden win
By Mary Dennehy
A JOBSTOWN native has won RTE’s Super Garden competition, with the former Mount Seskin Community College student’s inspirational garden on show at Bloom this weekend.
Growing up in Cloonmore, Darren Joyce was this week crowned the winner of Super Garden for his design, which was inspired by a French lock-keepers gate.
Darren Joyce talking President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina through his winning design at Bloom
Darren was faced with a serious challenge after homeowners Muji and Maryam Nassiri asked him to bring a Mediterranean feel to their Stepaside garden on the foothills of the Dublin Mountains.
However, Darren dug in and didn’t fail, with his design not only impressing the homeowners but also the judges on the RTE televised show.
Speaking with The Echo from Bloom earlier today, Darren said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic at the moment.
“I’m a horticulturist and a landscaper but really wanted to be a garden designer.
“That’s why I entered Super Garden, I thought if I did win, it could help fast track me into garden design.”
Now residing in Chapelizod, Darren grew up in Cloonmore, where his family still lives.
“I went to Jobstown Community College [now Mount Seskin Community College] and it’s because of a teacher that I am where I am”, Darren said.
Darren pictured in his reconstructed garden at Bloom with his parents, sister Lisa and niece Shannen
“Sister Mairead Hughes was a fantastic lady and she was the person who got me into gardening, after she got me work experience in Newlands Cross Garden Centre.
“I ended up staying in Newland’s Cross Garden Centre for 12 years and then went out on my own doing small jobs like lawns and borders… and things just grew from there.”
He added: “I can’t believe I’m now showing at Bloom.
“I’ve been coming to the show for the past 11 years and thought I’d love to do it one day… and now I’m here and I’m absolutely delighted.”
Darren’s winning garden has been reconstructed at the Bloom 2018 festival, which is running in the Pheonix Park this weekend – until Monday, May 4.
TAGS Tallaght
