After much anticipation the North West Garden Show 2012 is finally here and will take place this weekend, May 26th and 27th, on the grounds of Castlefinn Partnership Complex, Castelfinn.
On the back of two tremendously successful events in 2010 and 2011, which has generated an estimated €3.5million to the local economy, this year’s show is projected to be bigger and better and with a raft of new features is expected to draw in gardening enthusiasts from far and wide.
Speaking ahead of the weekend Event Director Michael Carlin said “With the weather forecast looking bright and the excitement mounting we are all geared up to bring you our best North West Garden Show yet. So get your gardening gloves on and come along to what is expected to be a great weekend of all things green”
The weekend’s events will commence with the crowning of the Northwest Garden Rose in the Villa Rose, Ballybofey on Friday May 25th at 8pm. Entertaining the crowds will be MC TV3’s Noel Cunningham and live music by local band Flipside. Tickets are €15 and available from the Villa Rose Hotel; from main sponsors McElhinney’s Department Store and from event organisers the CPI Complex, Castelfin.
Multi-award winning landscape architect Tim Austin will open the show at the Outdoor Stage at 11.00am on Saturday May 26th, he will host seminars at 1.00pm and 4.15pm on how to create a garden masterpiece, with landscape architect Marcus Flannery sharing top tips and expert advice at 3.00pm
Meanwhile 2011 TV3’s Irish Apprentice Candidate, brand ambassador for Chic Wedding Magazine & RSVP media and one of Ireland’s most fashionable women, Sandra Murphy, will be taking to the stage in the Flower Pavilion and Fashion Arena on Saturday to host three live heats (at 11.15am; 1.15am; 3.15pm) and a live grand final (5.15pm) of the innovative new Trash ‘n’ Fashion feature, new to this year’s show.
There will be a variety of flower arranging demonstrations taking place between the Trash ‘n’ Fashion catwalk heats, at 12.15pm, by Bernie Jackson; 2.15pm by Michael Doherty and 4.15pm by John Paul, of John Paul Florists Derry.
Ireland’s first Community Chef Brian Mc Dermott will be firing up the grill at the Cookery School Live from 12.15pm on Saturday whetting your appetite with the first of many savoury cookery demonstrations from both Brian and fellow award winning chef Ian Orr.
There will also be a host of sessions and seminars including meet the producer, growing you own food, cooking with herbs, chef butcher demonstrations and ask the expert sessions until 5.00pm. Not to worry if you miss Saturday’s sessions as the cookery school will go live at 12.15pm to 5.00pm again on Sunday
Live wood turning demonstrations by Conal McGinley will take place from 2pm on Saturday as well as live pottery demonstrations by Liam Louge in the Craft Fayre Marquee and live tree pruning by tree surgeon Colin Farrell throughout both days. Fashion shows will also be broadcast live on the big screen throughout the weekend and gardening expert, author and TV personality Diarmuid Gavin will unveil details of an exclusive Irish Garden for the White House over the two day event
Fashionista Sandra Murphy will return to the stage in the Flower Pavilion and Fashion Arena on Sunday to host two exclusive fashion shows by Ireland’s store of the year McElhinneys’ of Ballybofey at 1.30pm and 3.30pm. The team at John Paul Florists will also return to host live flower arranging demonstrations at 12.15pm; 2.15pm and 4.15pm on Sunday
The Happy Drummers will be performing live on the Outdoor Stage throughout Sunday, later followed by African Drumming with Ronan McKee and the children of St. Mary’s National School Castlefinn at 3.00pm. Plus get top tips from Tim Austin’s talks at 12.15pm and 4.15pm as well as from Marcus Flannery who will return to the stage at 12.45pm. Winners from the array of competitions; challenges and draws will be announced at a prize giving at 5.30pm on the Outdoor Stage to wrap up a great weekend of all things gardening
With sun the predicted to shine, and so much to look forward to it will be a weekend not to be missed. For more information and for a full programme of events logon to www.northwestgardenshow.ie or follow us on Facebook
We look forward to seeing you there!
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