GREEN FOR GROW
The Irish horticultural industry is under the spotlight in a new series which goes behind the scenes to find out what we’re growing
Horticulturalists will be in heaven as a new RTÉ series celebrates the industry in Ireland. Home Grown is presented by two of the sector’s dedicated advocates, Kitty Scully and Colm O’Driscoll.
Kitty and Colm travel all over Ireland in search of stories that celebrate Irish horticulture and growing in all its variety.
Among the topics covered are mushroom production — in which Ireland is a world leader — the GAA’s own farm where turf is grown for the Croke Park pitch, and how cut foliage grown in Tralee is used by high end florists in London and other parts of Europe. Grapes grown in North Co Dublin are also being turned into wine.
As well as stories about the different growers and producers, there are visits to inspirational gardens which are open to the public. This recognises the fact that, partly as a result of Covid, there has been a surge of interest in gardening.
The first episode begins at Croke Park, which is the only stadium in the world to have its own farm where turf is grown for the famous pitch, and Colm visits the farm in North Co Dublin.
Kitty meets cut foliage producer James Costelloe of Irish Green Guys, based in Tralee, Co Kerry, whose branches and leaves are used by florists much further afield.
‘It was fascinating to hear stories on the ground, and refreshing to meet so many resilient, hardworking, charismatic characters; dedicated to keeping this often overlooked industry alive and embracing old and new innovative technologies in the process,’ says Kitty.
Co-presenter Colm adds, ‘What excited me most about recording Home Grown was the opportunity to get behind-the-scenes access to many of the leading enterprises in Irish horticulture. The vast range of those we visited is a testament to the vibrancy and diversity of the industry here in Ireland.’
The horticulture industry is an important economic sector in Ireland, with an estimated 6,600 people employed full time in primary production activity, and a further 11,000 employed in value added and downstream businesses.
■ Home Grown is on RTÉ One on Monday at 8pm.