An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Cllr. Jim O’Leary with members of Community Gardens Ireland’s Committee at Airfield Estate, 12/10/24. Photos by Áine Budds.

Press Release: Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown joins Community Gardens Ireland at Airfield Estate to help officially launch National Allotments and Community Gardens Week

The Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Cllr Jim O’Leary joined members of Community Gardens Ireland (CGI) at Airfield Estate on Saturday 12^th October 2024, to officially launch the second ever National Allotments and Community Gardens Week.

Over 50 gardening enthusiasts from all over Ireland attended the launch which was part of CGI’s Autumn Gathering of Community Growers. The event on Saturday was co-funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Ireland’s Cohesion Policy Funds and supported by Airfield Estate.

Attendees heard from a panel of experts in the field of healthy soil, including: Dr. Aoibhin Moore Heslin, Soil Expert and Education & Research Officer at Airfield Estate; Craig Benton from Composting Ireland; and Conan Connolly, Siolta Croí, a Monaghan based project “regenerating people and wider nature.”

Community Gardens Ireland, a volunteer national organisation who support community growers across the country, are the organisers behind Ireland’s second ever National Allotments and Community Gardens Week. The week-long national event is taking place to raise awareness of allotments and community gardens, to highlight how important they are and to detail the huge benefits of community gardening for communities, individuals, and the environment.

The national week of events continues to grow in strength and for 2024 is co-funded by the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform and the European Union through Irelands Cohesion Policy Funds.

The theme for the 2024 National Allotments and Community Gardens Week is “Healthy Soil” and community groups throughout Ireland have organised events to celebrate and demonstrate how they are helping to sustain and nurture life in the soil.

Speaking at Saturday’s launch, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Cllr. Jim O’Leary said: “I would like to commend the Community Gardens Ireland group for running this event and the National Allotments and Community Garden Week. Grassroots initiatives like this are vital to drive change.”

“Community gardens are more than just places where we grow food, they are spaces where we grow community. They bring people together, promote social inclusion, and offer a space for learning, sharing, and healing.”

“Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is committed to supporting community gardens across the county and have included the development of Community Gardens (similar to the model in Fernhill Park) as an action in our dlr Climate Action Plan 2024-2029.”

“From providing grants and resources to local gardening groups, to promoting biodiversity through urban planting schemes, dlr has shown what can be achieved when local government works hand-in-hand with communities.”

Dónal McCormack, Chairperson of Community Gardens Ireland said:

“Community Gardens Ireland are delighted that the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoighaire-Rathdown, Cllr Jim O’Leary has joined us to launch the 2024 National Allotments and Community Gardens Week.”

“Dún Laoighaire-Rathdown is an area that has seen the benefit in local food projects. We also wish to thank all at Airfield Estate for hosting Saturday’s gathering of community growers, we have all seen first-hand how committed they are to local sustainable food production and healthy soil initiatives.” 

“All of us at Community Gardens Ireland are hopeful that the number of community gardens and allotments across Ireland will continue to grow and that National Allotments and Community Gardens Week will help encourage more people to get involved. Every community deserves a place to grow!” 

Gavin Kenny, Airfield Estate’s Head Gardener, said, “We are delighted to host the National Gathering of Community Gardens. It is fitting as we recently opened our community garden, just one of the steps we are taking to achieve our ambition to be Dublin’s sustainable food hub and connect people to where their food comes from. We can already see the impact it is having on teaching people about growing and creating a real sense of community with all walks of life getting involved.”

National Allotments and Community Gardens Week continues until Saturday 19th October 2024, with information on over 25 events taking place nationwide available on the Community Gardens Ireland website www.cgireland.org