Some of the sweetest grapes you’d find anywhere in the world are grown in Laois!
Ireland is not known for grapes and Laois might not jump out as the country's grape-growing county but a Rathdowney family are very proud of the produce of their vines and their rhubarb is also popular around the south Laois town.
Hugh Finn from the Conoboro in Rathdowney bucks says he is a full-time musician, part-time gardener, horiticulturist, and beginner beekeeper, who works in the shadow of the real gardener, his mother, Mary Finn.
"We have a small family garden growing some organic fruit and vegetables as well as a few beehives. Every year, we grow some favourites like potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, onions, garlic, carrots and more, but we have two particular produce that give a huge harvest each year and these include our rhubarb and the famous red grapes," he told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
They are also very generous with both.
"In spring and late summer we usually leave out rhubarb which is greatly appreciated by the locals and Rathdowney is certainly a rhubarb-loving town and there are many who make the finest tarts from it.
"Seemingly Jacintha Ford Bowe up in Quigley Park makes the best tart in town!! The rhubarb itself is my grandfather's and it’s quite old dating back over 60 years old at least. With lots of mulching and care during the frost, the drill of rhubarb grows huge and its absolutely delicious," he said.
Even Hugh is amazed by the grapes.
"Our grapes are a phenomenon. Sometimes people ask us how we grow grapes in Rathdowney…it’s close to the sunny south east but it's certainly no Barossa Valley. However, we do have some of the sweetest grapes you’d find anywhere in the world," said.
And, growing them isn't that complicated.
"They were always swapping and sharing plants through the hedge. The cutting grew into the finest grapevine you’d ever see and was originally up against a south-facing horse shed but we got rid of the horse and built the entire polytunnel around the grapevine. From then, it produces enormous amounts of grapes each year.
"Some years we’ve made wines, tonics, juices and raisins but we mostly we would just try to eat them all but there’s no way we’d ever get through them all," he said.
He said turning into wine hasn't been a problem either.
"My brother and mother made many bottles for a few years and we were toying with the idea again this year but time is against us. It’s lovely though, always very strong," he laughs.
"We gather as much as we can, bring them out the roadside and share them. They are ripe in September when the schools are back, so take a bunch, they’re perfect for lunch," he said.
You can follow the Finn family garden and beekeeping page on Instagram and Facebook under @therathdowneybeekeeper