Our Community Association held its 24th annual Flower and Vegetable Show on September 1st. As the centrepiece event in the community’s calendar it is always eagerly anticipated by everyone in the district. It was held in St. Patrick’s Church Parochial Hall.

The weather on the day was not promising. Early exhibitor’s arrival was accompanied by an overcast sky and steady drizzle; not at all a promising opening to the day. Happily gardeners are a hardy sort and are apparently undeterred by a little ‘damp’ in the air. Fortunately as the bustle of activity increased the sun came out. To my mind there are fewer more beautiful sights than seeing Drumbeg Church Hall full of plants and flowers with the sun streaming through its long windows. The place almost seems to glow. There were around 200 exhibits across the Classes by the close of staging. Mr. John McCausland who is an old friend of the event acted as show judge. Now in his eighties John has a passion for begonias and has the most wonderful display every year in his garden. Where most of us might try our hand at a few he cultivates them in their hundreds! Despite his years, his enthusiasm and energy for gardening remains undiminished. This year he had particular praise for the fruit and vegetable growers who despite the difficult weather conditions had still been able to produce entries of a very high quality.

The show was opened by the well known amateur golfer Darren Crowe of Drumbeg. Young Darren is one of the foremost amateur golfers in Ireland; his most recent success being victory in the South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship this year. Darren confessed to not being much of a gardener although he did admit to having dug himself into the odd hole on the golf course! We were very grateful to him for staying to present the Class Certificates and Show Cups.

We were also privileged to have the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Band to provide musical accompaniment which proved a very fitting backdrop to the whole event and was much appreciated by all. As an added attraction the children were given an introduction to Mad Science. The eccentric professor dressed in a white coat and hair trying to escape in all directions held an audience of young and not-so-young in thrall as he demonstrated, through the use of tubes, bottles, a hair dryer and two drain plungers, some of the weird, wonderful and unbelievable properties of the world around us. There was mention of a chair of nails but I didn’t ask!

The main awards were as follows:
• Sandra Abbott won Best in Show.
• Roy O’Neill won Best Fruit and Vegetable Exhibit.
• Sandra Abbott won Best Floral Art Exhibit
• Oliver Ryder Moore was awarded the Children’s Cup for his delightful miniature garden on a plate.

Thanks need to be extended to the church (Rev. R. Devenney and his Officers) for all their assistance and every business and individual who contributed to the Show ballot and the Sales Table.

Last but not least where would we be without the gardening enthusiasts? Who every year, come rain, hail or shine, delight and amaze with what they are able to conjure out of the earth in time for the event. Without you and your endeavours there would be no Show. Thank you all.

report by David Watson