Mullingar Garden Show returns after five-year hiatus

The Mullingar and District Gardening Club Show will return this weekend after a five-year hiatus due to Covid-19.

The event will take place at Mullingar Community Centre on Saturday from 2pm to 5pm, moving from its previous location at O’Meara’s Garden Centre.

Entry is free, and the show will feature 74 classes, ranging from cacti pots to dahlias, geraniums, and vegetables.

Additionally, there will be classes in photography, jam preservation, flower arranging, and art for children.

Mullingar Gardening Club chairperson Danny Dunne said he is looking forward to the return of the show.

“The club stopped meeting during Covid, and then we got back together in 2022, meeting in people’s gardens and things like that,” he said.

“In 2023, we were officially back, but we didn’t hold a show, so we decided to have one this year.

“It’s the biggest event on our annual calendar, and I’m really excited for it.” Danny explained that there are trophies available in individual sections as well as an overall trophy.

“Points are allocated for first, second, and third place, with the person who has the highest number of points will be crowned the individual champion,” he said.

“They will receive the Bank of Ireland Trophy, which has been sponsored by the bank for about 10 or 15 years.

“I happened to win it the last year we had the show before Covid, so I’ve had it for the five years, and I’d really like to see someone else take it now.”

Danny added that preparations for the event were well under way two weeks in advance, as vegetables, potted plants, and stalls were being prepared.

The Mullingar District Gardening Club are hoping for a large turnout at this year’s show, where there will also be a raffle and a sale.