PHOTOS: Official launch of Dundalk Community Garden

Click the 'Next >' arrow above or 'Next Story' below to go through the gallery

All photos: Arthur Kinahan

Below: Cllr Sean Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District, cutting the tape to open the Muirhevnamor Community Garden

There was a great turnout on Monday 3 March at Hoey's Lane in Muirhevnamor in Dundalk, for the official launch of the Dundalk Community Garden, after months of hard work by the committee to turn a large field, a large part of which was covered in vegetation, to allotments.

The site which lay dormant for some years, had previously hosted a community garden run by local community worker Lucy Rafferty, until a group of people, including Cllr Kevin Meenan who has been heavily involved in the project, came together through Muirhevnamor Community Council and decided to get it back up and running.

With guidance of Tony Jordan in Louth Leader, as well as the agreement of Dundalk Mens' Shed to lease part of the site for their new premises and become a type of anchor tenant, and funding from the Community Climate Action Fund, work could begin on developing the site into a community garden.

A huge boost that helped get the community garden plans up and running were astounding donations totalling €25,000, from a local businessman who grew up in the area, Stephen McDowell. The donations helped fund a container to store tools, as well as items including the construction of polytunnels.

Many attended the official launch of the gardens last week, including officials from Louth County Council and people in the area.

Cllr Meenan said he and the committee were very happy with the turnout for the opening, commenting that it was “a fantastic turnout” and they received “great support from the community”, including from officials from Louth County Council and the environmental community.

Cllr Meenan added that the phenomonal contribution of Stephen McDowall to the garden played a huge part in getting the garden open. He further added that the support and buy in from the local community and the local authority, “gives the group that boost of confidence going forward”.