If you have ever potted a plant or if you would like to turn that neglected backyard into an urban garden, then there is only one place for you this weekend.
The North West Garden Show in Castlefinn may only be about to enter its second year, but already it has built up an astonishing reputation.
If there was ever anything you wanted to know about your garden but were afraid to ask then Castlefin is the place to be today and tomorrow.
From flower arranging, to patio building and from getting the perfect lawn to picking the right plants for a shrubbery, there will be someone on hand to help you.
One of the special guests over the weekend is none other than celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin who will be parting with his expert knowledge on all things green.
And having just scooped a gold medal at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, Diramuid will be in huge demand.
He told last night’s Late Late Show on RTE “I’ll be in Donegal for the weekend if anybody want to come for the North West Garden Show.
“The gang up there helped me out with my recent Dirty Old Town television show and I’ll be returning the favour.”
As well as getting down and green, there will be plenty to eat after all the hard work.
And what better way to stave off the hunger pains than with Inishowen’s own community chef Brian McDermott who will be giving a cookery demonstration.
Now don’t say you haven’t been warned.
Get to Castlefinn for what should be one of the weekends of the year.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday 28th May
11.00 Gate Opens
11.30 Official Opening by Celebrity Guests Diarmuid Gavin & Tim Austen
12.00 Cooking Demonstration by Community Chef Brian Mc Dermott
12.30 Doctor Compost Workshop
12.45 Lawnmower Demonstration by Eamonn Tinney & Sons
1.00 Metal Crafting Demonstration by Donegal Gas & Welding at Stand 37
1.30 Lawnmower Demonstration by Letterkenny Tool Hire
1.45 Cooking Demonstration by Community Chef Brian Mc Dermott
2.00 Flower Arranging Demonstration in the Flower Pavilion with Carmel Burns
2.15 Husqvarna Automower Demonstration by Main Sponsor Robert Kee & Sons
2.30 Tim Austen in ‘Ask The Expert”
2.45 Doctor Compost Workshop
3.00 Lawnmower Demonstrationby Raphoe Hardware
3.15 Cooking Demonstration by Community Chef Brian Mc Dermott
3.30 Presentation by Diarmuid Gavin followed by “Ask The Expert”
3.45 Lawnmower Demonstration by Eamonn Tinney & Sons
4.00 Doctor Compost Workshop
4.00 Flower Arranging Demonstration in the Flower Pavilion with Joan Porter
4.15 Husqvarna Automower Demonstration by Main Sponsor Robert Kee & Sons
4.30 Tim Austen in ‘Ask The Expert”
4.45 Cooking Demonstration by Community Chef Brian Mc Dermott
4.45 Lawnmower Demonstration by Letterkenny Tool Hire
5.00 Diarmuid Gavin “Ask The Expert”
5.15 Doctor Compost Workshop
5.30 Metal Crafting Demonstration by Donegal Gas & Welding at Stand 37
6.00 Close
Other activities ongoing throughout the afternoon include “Toss the Sheaf” & “Tossing the 56” competitions plus lots more fun, games and attractions and on Sunday the Tug-O-War championships!
Sunday 29th May
11.00 Gate Opens
11.30 Weigh-in for Tug-O-War Championships
12.00 Cooking Demonstration by Community Chef Brian Mc Dermott
12.00 Tug-O-War Starts
12.15 Doctor Compost Workshop
12.30 Tim Austen in “Ask The Expert”
12.30 Lawnmower Demonstration by Letterkenny Tool Hire
12.45 Metal Crafting Demonstration by Donegal Gas & Welding at Stand 37
1.15 Lawnmower Demonstration by Eamonn Tinney & Sons
1.30 Presentation by Diarmuid Gavin followed by “Ask The Expert”
1.45 Cooking Demonstration by Community Chef Brian Mc Dermott
2.00 Flower Arranging Demonstration in the Flower Pavilion with Marie Canning
2.15 Husqvarna Automower Demonstration by Main Sponsor Robert Kee & Sons
2.30 Doctor Compost Workshop
2.45 Lawnmower Demonstration by Raphoe Hardware
3.00 Diarmuid Gavin “Ask The Expert”
3.15 Cooking Demonstration by Community Chef Brian Mc Dermott
3.30 Flower Arranging Demonstration in the Flower Pavilion with Joan Porter
3.45 Doctor Compost Workshop
4.00 Husqvarna Automower Demonstration by Main Sponsor Robert Kee & Sons
4.15 Cooking Demonstration by Community Chef Brian Mc Dermott
4.30 Lawnmower Demonstration by Eamonn Tinney & Sons
4.30 Flower Arranging Demonstration in the Flower Pavilion with Marion McMenamin
4.45 Metal Crafting Demonstration by Donegal Gas & Welding at Stand 37
5.00 Garden Challenge Awards Ceremony with Diarmuid Gavin
5.15 Grand Draw & Prize Winner Announcements with Diarmuid Gavin
6.00 Close
Ends
