| Diarmuid will lead the Irish charge
at Chelsea  By
Niamh Hennessy
THE smell of flowers and freshly cut grass in gardens throughout the
country can only mean one thing summer’s on the way.
And what better way to kick-start proceedings than London’s annual
Chelsea Flower Show.
The Irish have always made a massive contribution to the world-famous
show and this year is set to be no different.
Meath-based building company Shomera have been enlisted with the task
of creating a garden pavilion for Irish landscape gardener and television
presenter Diarmuid Gavin’s entry to this year’s show.
Diarmuid asked Shomera to construct a pavilion structure as the centrepiece
of his entry to the show which takes place between May 22 and 26.
Shomera was established in 1998 and manufactures and installs additional
living space for homes and gardens from its headquarters in Dunshaughlin
in Co. Meath.
Last year the company extended its product range and began selling house
extensions due to the increasing demand in the market.
Designed by Diarmuid the pavilion will be clad in western red cedar and
will have two wings that intersect.
It will include two glass garden studio spaces, each with its own deck
overlooking a pond, that will serve as work or relaxation rooms along
with outdoor roofed space.
Managing director of Shomera Frank O’Sullivan explained: “Diarmuid
wanted an
Irish team at Chelsea and he approached us a couple of months ago to
develop a structure for his exhibition it’s a great opportunity
for us.”
Diarmuid describes the show as both wildly exciting and infuriating.
He says it has given him a career, is a place to show-off and is about
meeting old friends.
Further Irish influence at this year’s show comes from the display
by Thompson & Morgan whose design on ‘potatoes through the ages’
will feature the Irish Potato Famine.
The display will take visitors through the history of the potato starting
with ancient examples such as Mayan Gold a descendent of wild potatoes
eaten by inhabitants of the Andes 10,000 years ago.
This year’s other Irish entrants include House, Castles and Gardens
of Ireland from Dublin and also Hampton Conservatories from Antrim.
As always there will be a strong Irish presence with many people expected
to make the journey from Ireland.
Blooming success
The show is held annually for five days in May.
It has been held at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea since 1913.
This will be the 85th show to be held at this site.
Originally known as the Great Spring Show, it was first held in Kensington
in 1862.
There are around 600 exhibitors in total and the show will feature around
50 gardens and more than 100 floral exhibitors in the Great Pavilion.
157,000 visitors are expected to attend the show. |
