St. Patricks Boys National School Skibbereen win Muintir na Tire Cork School Garden of the Year

Press Release

 St. Patricks Boys National School Skibbereen win Muintir na Tire Cork School Garden of the Year

St. Patricks Boys National School Skibereen have won the  Muintir na Tire Cork School Garden of the Year at the Cork School Garden Awards at Cork County Hall today

 School Garden of the Year. Winners  St. Patrick's Skibbereen Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Conor Nelligan Cork County Council, Miriam Dillon Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey, Ian O Driscoll Rowan O Driscoll, Frankie Murphy Brian Granaghan and Alan Foley.

The green-fingered children, from all classes of the school, have helped create a sensory path and garden, a zen garden, a living tunnel leading to its own willow dome, and a series of raised vegetable beds, one for each class in the school, which features everything from sweetcorn to onions and potatoes.

Inside, their  Geodome over two hundred boys grow everything from bananas and tea plants to avocado, melons, tomatoes, and squash, as well as a selection of colourful but deadly carnivorous plants such as the Venus flytrap and pitcher plant.

The Geodome at  St. Patricks Boys National School Skibereen 

Staff and pupils have worked very hard on their garden. Each class has its own vegetable bed, on which the children and their teacher grow a selection of vegetables, berries, and even flowers.

Junior infants, for example cultivate sunflowers and strawberries, first-class pupils grow onions and shallots, while sixth-class pupils concentrate on potatoes. They have also planted an orchard and fruit bushes.

 The Bug Hotel at St. Patricks Boys National School Skibereen

The Sensory Path at St. Patricks Boys National School Skibereen

The Zen Garden at  St. Patricks Boys National School Skibereen

 Raised Beds at St. Patricks Boys National School Skibereen

Their garden has many other memorable elements other than food production, Biodiversity, Upcycling, Colour and Art fun and play as well as learning opportunities for each class.

The garden includes many features to encourage wildlife and biodiversity. The pupils are very mindful of the plight of all their tiny friends – especially the bees and they developed a ‘wild patch’ to help our tiny creatures. They have also developed a nature walk to encourage biodiversity.

Upcycling is also important here with composting and rainwater harvesting employed to great effect.  Colour is achieved by reusing everyday items as sculpture and art in the garden and the garden offers many opportunities for fun and play. There is also natural amphitheatre, which doubles as an outdoor classroom.

West Cork Schools did very well this year with Muinefliuch NS,  Rusheen NS, Scoil na Buachaillí Clonakilty, Timoleague NS, Scoil Abán Naofa Ballyvourney and Scoil Mhuire Schull all winning Special Awards

Others in West Cork who did well were Scoil Phadraig Naofa Bandon, Aghabullogue Scoil Mhaoi Iosa Knockavilla,  Scoil Mhuire Ballincollig, Ardfield NS Ballymoney NS,  Ballyheada NS,  Scoil Mhuire Rosscarbery,  Rath NS Baltimore and  Ballyheada NS

Top Gardens in South and East Cork included Scoil Clochair Mhuire Carrigtwohil, School Of the Divine Child Ballintemple, St Marys Special School Rochestown, St Columbus GNS Douglas and St John the Baptist NS Midleton. Other schools from South Cork included Cobh Mixed NS, Gaelscoil Ui Eigeartaig Cobh and  Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil Glanmire.

North Cork was also among the winners with,Banteer NS Gaelscoil Thomás Daibhis Mallow, CBS MitchelstownScoil  Ballyhooley NS, Conna NS all doing well  while the following schools also did well Vicarstown NS, Scoil Chroí Iosa Blarney, Coachford NS, Ballygiblin NS, Rathduff Ns

Mr Sean Holland Muintir na Tire said the standard was getting better each year making it very difficult for the judges. He thanked The Environment and Heritage sections of Cork County Council and our friends in Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey who give us great help at every stage of the competition.

The Results

Commended School Gardens 2017	Vicarstown NS Glandore NS Scoil Chroí Iosa Blarney Scoil Mhuire Rosscarbery Coachford NS Ballycroneen NS Cobh Mixed NS Gaelscoil Ui Eigeartaig Cobh Ballygiblin NS Rathduff Ns Ballyheada NS
Highly Commended School Gardens 2017	Scoil Phadraig Naofa Bandon Aghabullogue NS Ballyhooley NS Scoil mhaoi Iosa Knockavilla Ns Scoil Mhuire Ballincollig Conna NS Ballymoney NS St Marys Special School Rochestown Ardfield NS Gaelscoil Uí Drisceoil Glanmire Rath NS Kilcredan NS
Special Awards
Best Small Garden	Joint Winners Gaelscoil ThomásDaibhis Mallow CBS Mitchelstown
Best Biodiversity Garden	Muinefliuch NS
Most Innovative Garden	School of the Divine Child Ballintemple
Griffins Garden Centre Best Bee Friendly Garden	Scoil Chlochair Mhuire, Carrigtwohill
Best Food Production Garden	Rusheen NS
Best Upcycling Garden	Scoil na Buachaillí  Clonakilty
Best Colour and Art Garden	Joint Winners Timoleague NS Scoil Aban Naofa Ballymaceera
Best Fun and Play Garden	Banteer NS
Most improved Garden	Scoil Mhuire Schull
Best New Garden	Joint Winners St Columbas GNS Douglas St John the Baptist NS Midleton
School Garden Of The Year	St. Patricks Boys National School Skibereen

Best Small Garden. Joint Award. GS Thomais Daighis, Mallow Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire,  Treasa Ni Choileáin, Mary Collins, Marc Breathnach and Padraig Baród O Gamhna

Best Small Garden. Joint Award. CBS Mitchelstown. Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Gavin Carey Teacher, Owen Kenneally, Kieran Browne,and Simon Whelan.

Most Innovative Garden Award. Divine Child, Ballintemple. Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Conor Nelligan Cork County Council, Krzyztof Gygan, Mateusz Kaczmarek, Siobhán Browne, Shane Lynch and Mary O Hanlon Deputy Principal.

Griffins Garden Centre Bee Friendly Award. Scoil Clochar Mhuire Carrigtwohill. Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Conor Nelligan Cork County Council, Miriam Dillon Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey, Marie Crowley Teacher, Andrea Solnar, Favour Pedro, Marrianne Crowley, Alex Kusz, Ella O Brien, Saoirse Quinlan, and Amelia Makowska.

Food Production Award. Rusheen NS. Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Conor Nelligan Cork County Council, Miriam Dillon Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey ,Jessie Murphy, Liam Mc Sweeney and Michael O Riordan.

Best Upcycling award. Scoil na mBuachailli, Clonakilty Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Conor Nelligan Cork County Council, Miriam Dillon Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey, Mario Qokaj, Oscar Kingston,and  Jessie Craig  

Best Colour and Art. Joint Winner Timoleague. Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Conor Nelligan Cork County Council,  Mirim Dillon Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey, Emma, Tara and Sarah Jackson Hegarty 

Best Colour and Art. Joint Winner Baile Mhic Ira, Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Conor Nelligan Cork County Council, Miriam Dillon Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey, Fíona De Róiste, Maire Ni Luasa, Ciara Ni Chriodain  and Siobhain Ni Luasa

Best Fun and Play Award Banteer.NS. Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Conor Nelligan Cork County Council, Miriam Dillon Griffins Garden Centre, Saoirse Foley, Clíona Barrett, Bernie O Connor and Eileen Fitzgerald.

 Most Improved, Schull. Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Conor Nelligan Cork County Council, Miriam Dillon Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey, Amy Lawson, Heidi Hogan and Ms. O Sullivan.

Best New Entry, Joint Winner. St. Columba's Douglas. Included in Photo are County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Conor Nelligan Cork County Council, Miriam Dillon Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey, also included are pupils and Teacher Coleen Forsyth.

Best New Entry, Joint Winner. St. John the Baptist, Midleton. Included in Photo are Pupils and Teachers and  County Mayor Seamus McGrath Mary Stack Cork County Council  Annette Lane Muintir na Tire, Conor Nelligan Cork County Council, Miriam Dillon Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey, 

Cork School Gardens Competition 2017

Drink Tea for MND Fermoy Resource Centre June 22nd 10am -1pm

SHEP Training Programme

SHEP Training Programme 2017-18
September	Diploma in Social & Psychological Health Studies UCC Main Campus, Cork	Entry Requirements	UCC Level 6 & 7
September	SHEP Certificate in Personal Development (Foundation Programme Part 1) Cork, Ballincollig, Killarney, Tralee & Limerick	Open Access (120 hours)	SHEP Certified
September	SHEP Certificate in Social Awareness & Community Empowerment (Foundation Programme Part 2)  Cork & Limerick	Open Access (78 hours)	SHEP Certified
September	SHEP Short Courses (Health & Well-being) Cork & Kerry (various locations)	Open Access (20 hours)	SHEP Certified
September	SHEP On-Going Development Courses & Workshops Ballincollig (& Killarney)	Open Access (some courses)	SHEP Certified
September	SHEP Certificate in  Specialised Tutor Training** Limerick	(c. 190 hours)	SHEP Certified
September	Introduction to Self-Advocacy Kerry	Full (30 hours)	SHEP Certified
September	Reflective Practice for Practitioners Waterford	(c. 25 hours)	SHEP Certified
January	SHEP Certificate in Continuing Personal Development Cork	(112 hours)	SHEP Certified
January	SHEP Certificate in Facilitation* Cork	(112 hours)	SHEP Certified
February	SHEP On-Going Development Courses & Workshops Cork, Ballincollig & Killarney	Open Access (some courses)	SHEP Certified
February	Reflective Practice for Practitioners Cork/Ballincollig & Kerry	(c. 25 hours)	SHEP Certified
February & April	SHEP Short Courses (Health & Well-being) Cork & Kerry (various locations); Limerick City	Open Access (20 hours)	SHEP Certified
*Requires prior completion of the SHEP Foundation Programme. **Requires prior completion of the SHEP Certificate in Facilitation Programme. Our courses are delivered by SHEP Trainers or SHEP Tutors. Please note the all courses commence subject to numbers. Courses are generally filled on  first come first served basis – so early booking is normally advantageous. Course information and prices correct at time of going to press but may change. Please check the  SHEP Website  for more information and/or phone us on (021) 4666180
www.socialandhealth.com (021) 4666180

Potatoes from GIY Ireland

Potatoes

I can see the veg patch out the window as I write this, and I think it’s fair to say that there’s a real sense of abundant growth right now. May was incredibly dry which didn’t help the growth, so I guess the substantial rain over the last week or so has really driven things on. Though the weather continues to be somewhat unpredictable (still rather chilly and very windy), everything is growing like mad, including the weeds. 

Incidentally, I am plagued with chickweed in the smaller polytunnel this year.  This vigorous weed is incredibly hardy and has a substantial root system that defies hand weeding.  Hoeing while the soil is dry is the best defense but since each plant can produce up to 15,000 seeds, staying ahead of it can be a challenge.

We’ve been eating new potatoes from the big tunnel for a few weeks now, and the crop outside in the veg patch is looking healthy at this stage.  I am hoping that it will be ready just as the small polytunnel crop is finished (in probably a fortnight or so).  The top of the first sowing of pea plants are just visible behind the spuds and are doing well also.  In the foreground I can see the garlic and onions.  The former has developed a rust, as it always does in our garden.  It doesn’t really affect the bulbs so it’s more of an aesthetic problem than anything else.  Beetroot, carrots, parsnips, celery, celeriac, courgettes and kale are all growing well but small still.  In the big tunnel the tomatoes are flying – we’re only a week or two away from the first ripe tomatoes.

There are quite a few crops that I’ve left in the soil from last year on the grounds that they either look very pretty or are useful in other ways.  Considering how much of a neat freak I am generally, I am surprising myself with this laissez-faire attitude. The purple sprouting broccoli plants are long past their best, but they’ve a mass of yellow flowers on them and every time I go near them I can see the bees moving stealthily from flower to flower.  It would be somewhat mean to deprive them of this valuable source of pollen.  The leeks from last winter, also past their best, have shot up and produced a seed head.  Also very pretty and therefore getting a temporary reprieve.

Last night we had our first meal of the year that came entirely from the garden. It was a simple enough affair (see recipe below) – a salad supper I suppose you could call it, with some hard boiled eggs, lots of greens and herbs, some peas and new potatoes, and a good vinaigrette.  But still, it’s an important milestone and hopefully the start of a self-sufficient and delicious 8 or 9 month spell.

The Basics – How to Hoe

Controlling weeds with a hoe is the best way to keep on top of them and far easier than hand-weeding.  Regular hoeing kills off visible weeds, but also kills the weed seedlings that haven’t even appeared above the ground.   Planting vegetables in lines means that you can run the hoe up between the rows to control weeds between the veg.  Since most vegetables don’t like competition from weeds, keeping your veg beds weed-free makes the veg patch more productive.

The best time to hoe is before weeds have appeared – this is easier said than done a lot of the time, but regular hoeing in the veg patch will make your life much easier.  Weed seedlings are developing all the time, and by upsetting them with the hoe, they are less likely to grow. 

It's best to hoe when the soil surface is dry and the weather is sunny.  The weeds stand much less chance of re-rooting if the soil is dry, and a hot sun will shrivel them once they are dislodged.

When using your hoe, stand upright to protect your back and run the hoe over and back just below the surface of the soil.  The idea is to cut the weeds beneath the soil at root level (rather than slicing the top of them off at soil level). 

There are numerous types of hoe and having a couple of different types in the toolshed is usually the way to go.  The oscillating hoe swivels as you move it forward and back and is great for moving quickly over a large bed.  A dutch hoe has a smaller head for getting in around plants and doing the precision work.  A hand hoe is good for when you’re down on the hands and knees dealing with more established weeds.

Beyond Drifting: Imperfectly Known Animals

Mandy Barker
Sirius Arts Centre
Until Sun 02 July  

Plankton form a diverse group of microscopic marine organisms living in the water column, not able to swim against the current; they exist in a drifting, floating, state.

 In this series by Mandy Barker, unique ‘specimens’ of this animal species relate to the pioneering discoveries made by marine biologist John Vaughan Thompson in Cobh and Cork Harbour during the 1800’s.   

Presented as microscopic samples, objects of marine plastic debris, recovered from the same location, mimic Thompson’s early scientific discoveries of plankton. The work represents the degradation and contamination of plastic particles in the natural environment, by creating the perception of past scientific discoveries, when organisms were free from plastic. 

The enveloping black space evokes the deep oceans beneath. Presenting new ‘specimens’, created from recovered debris, serves as a metaphor to the ubiquity of plastic and the anthropocene, encapsulating in miniature the much larger problem of an imperfect world. 

Current scientific research has found that plankton ingest micro plastic particles, mistaking them for food, and at the base of the food chain they are themselves a crucial source of food for many larger creatures. The potential impact on marine life and ultimately humankind itself is currently of vital concern. In terms of plankton, and of action, we are ‘Beyond Drifting’, and must bring into focus these ‘Imperfectly Known Animals’. 

This series of work by Mandy Barker was born out of a residency that she undertook at Sirius Arts Centre in 2014. Some of the work is presented as a science book from the 1800’s, that, as well as reflecting the current situation regarding the organisms’ intake of plastic, also subtly includes the original writing, descriptions, and figures recorded by Thompson in his research memoirs of 1830, entitled, ‘Imperfectly Known Animals’. The book uniquely captures our changing times along with both past and present research.  

In November 2016 ‘Beyond Drifting: Imperfectly Known Animals’ was shortlisted for the prestigoius Prix Pictet 2017, the world's leading photographic award in sustainability.

This art exhibition is supported by Cork County Council and the Plastox Project (at NUI Galway) which is funded by the Marine Institute under the framework of JPI Oceans.