Prize plots and rosettes give growers the good life

OVER 150 people attended the Friarstown Allotments open day in Bohernabreena last Saturday, where rosettes were presented to a number of plot holders in recognition of their bountiful crops.

There are over 300 plots in the allotments, which are owned by South Dublin County Council, that are home to a variety of crops.

The open day allowed the plot holders and their families to get together and compete in best crop competitions and soak up the jovial atmosphere on the day.

Clondalkin man Pat O’Rourke, who has maintained his plot in Friarstown since 2009 and is a member of the South Dublin Allotment Association, told The Echo about how the day went.

“What happens is that we have a plot competition where we look at the plot and use a number of criteria, such as a fairly large variety of veg being grown, herbs, fruits, and how the plots are being looked after.

“The council are very generous.

“They hire a big marquee for us and they sponsor the prizes for the plot competition.”

Kayleigh Mannering, Justine Mannering, Michelle Stynes, Des Garry, Stella
Bracken and Teresa Stynes

When Pat was speaking to The Echo over the phone on Monday, he was in the process of turning over the soil in his plot to grow green manure over winter, before turning it over again the following spring.

When asked what keeps people going back to and maintaining their plots, which require a great deal of commitment to effectively yield crops, Pat said there were a number of factors.

“There are two general things that keep us up here,” he said.

“One is the fact that you’re growing something that’s homegrown and every day you learn something new.

“Two is, when people come up, they’re usually a bit wary, but after a year or so they become friends with the people at the neighbouring plots.

Cllr Charlie O’Connor, John Maher, Marie Power, Cllr Pamela Kearns and Cllr Lynn Hagen Meade in Bohernabreena

“It’s the companionship, and the fact that you’re growing your own produce and there’s no pesticides or herbicides being used.

“There’s a huge sense of satisfaction that comes from it, and you’re at peace when you’re doing things like digging a plot – you know what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.”

Plans are already in place for next year’s open day – which will be the eleventh one held in Friarstown – and the organisers are hoping to hold it in July 2024 instead of August as per usual.

“We want to make it bigger and better,” said Pat. “We believe we’re going to bring it in July next year instead of August.

“There will be a better variety of vegetables then, and we hope that, next year, the weather will be more kind to us.”