Article by Connie Duffy
In the quiet, windswept beauty between Glenties and Narin Beach, nestled in the scenic townland of Kilkenny, West Donegal, something truly magical is happening – sunflowers are reaching for the sky.
At the heart of it all is Donna Campbell, a warm, nature-loving woman who runs a small catering business, Fiddle & Beau, from her cosy seaside cottage.
Surrounded by woodlands, wildflowers, and the occasional deer or fawn at her doorstep, Donna lives close to the rhythms of nature – and this year, she’s found herself in the middle of something unexpectedly joyful: a sunflower story that’s captured hearts near and far.
It all started with a wish. Inspired by her late father Jimmy, one of Donegal’s most influential traditional musicians, who had a wonderful knack for growing sunflowers “bigger than your head,” Donna decided to try her own hand at it. She made her own compost from vegetable peelings, added seaweed from nearby shores, avoided chemicals, and let nature take the lead – even the hungry caterpillars were welcome guests.
Then, something amazing happened.
“One day I looked out and they were towering over me,” Donna says with a laugh. “Someone even asked if I’d planted magic beans!”
Now standing at nearly ten feet tall, her sunflowers have become a local wonder – stretching toward the Donegal skies, defying the wind and rain, and reminding us all that small wishes can sometimes grow into big, beautiful things.
But this isn’t just about record-breaking heights. For Donna, it’s about joy, memory, and the quiet persistence of nature. “Every time I see them, I smile,” she says. “I know Dad would be amazed – and probably shaking his head with a laugh.”
The late Jimmy Campbell, RIP, who passed away in 2022
Donna reached out to the national sunflower competition in Raheny, Co. Dublin, and to her surprise, they encouraged her to enter. Now, she’s hoping her towering blooms might even set a record for Donegal.
More than that, though, Donna wants to start a movement. A plea, really: to see more sunflowers lighting up gardens, roadsides, and villages across Donegal.
“I’d love to hear from anyone else growing sunflowers or wanting to try. Let’s make them shine all over the county.”
Donna in her magical sunflower garden
The sunflowers gather around the outdoor furniture in Donna’s Sunflower Garden
So here’s the call: Let’s help the sunflowers bloom in Donegal. Whether it’s a single seed in a windowsill pot or a patch in a school garden, each sunflower planted is a little act of hope, beauty, and connection.
Donna Campbell has already proven that even in the wild weather of the north-west, sunshine can thrive. All it takes is care, a bit of curiosity, and a big, blooming heart.
If you’re growing sunflowers, thinking of starting, or just want to cheer Donna on, reach out to her at: donnacampbellapp1@gmail.com or (089) 4808828. Share your stories, your photos, your tips. Let’s turn Donegal golden, one sunflower at a time.
