PHOTOS St Munchins Community Allotments Party teaches children about growing fresh produce

Community Development Worker Ray Murphy, CEO of St Munchins Community Centre Linda Ledger, Marlo Brien, JP McManus, Sean McCormack, Councillor John Costello and Deputy Mayor of Metropolitan District of Limerick, Vivienne Crowley at the St. Munchin’s Community Allotments Party at St Munchins Community Centre, Ballynanty, Thursday, June 14th, 2018. Picture: Sophie Goodwin/ilovelimerick.

St Munchins Community Allotments Party teaches children about growing fresh produce

by ilovelimerick correspondent Chloe O’Keeffe

St Munchins Community Allotments held an Allotments Party, this afternoon, Thursday, June 14 in conjunction with Thomond Primary School, and pupils from Scoil Chriost Ri B, Caherdavin Primary school.

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The St Munchins Community Allotments community garden boasts a wide range of vegetables and flowers sewn and grown by a gathering of people from across the community. Organically grown vegetables like kale, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes, onions, leaves like rocket and a variety of edible plants as well as a wide range of salad leaves are among some of what can be found growing at the impressive Allotments.

St Munchins Community Allotments Party acted as a celebration of the lovely space that has been provided and for all involved. Marlo Brien, the main organiser spoke of how he wanted to get people “more aware” of the St Munchins Community Allotments, and this was the ideal way.

The Choir of Thomand Primary School performing at the St. Munchin’s Community Allotments Party at St Munchins Community Centre, Ballynanty, Thursday, June 14th, 2018. Picture: Sophie Goodwin/ilovelimerick.

At the event, the public were treated to a choir performance from the pupils of the Thomond Primary School. A guided tour of the Allotments followed, and then the pupils got an opportunity to sew seeds with the help from Cormac Griffith of Limerick Seedsavers Scariff, “They get to bring them home too, so they can actually see something growing,” commented Linda Ledger, CEO of the centre.

Community Development Worker Ray Murphy explained more about the Allotments, and how it was first set up by the community members a number of years ago, “[There’s] a lot of stuff going on here, from kale, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onions, broccoli. There are lots and lots of stuff growing here… even though we’re here now, it’s still growing.”

In attendance was Limerick native, racehorse owner, JP McManus, as well as Cllr. John Costello who thought it was a great initiative, “It’s a community initiative, and it’s wonderful to see all the kids out and about- and thankfully the weather is fine. It’s up to people like the local community to progress things like this. It’s wonderful to see- it’s all fresh fruit and vegetables, so it’s up and coming, and great for the area,” and Area Representative, Sharon Benson who agreed with her colleague and said it was “great to see the kids out enjoying it too.”

The St Munchins Community Allotments is nestled in the shadows of Thomond Park in Ballynanty, and allotment beds are available to be rented for €30 for the year.

For more info on the St Munchins Community Centre go here.

For more stories on the St. Munchins Community Centre go here.

Photos by Sophie Goodwin/ilovelimerick