Tidy Village group hosts wonderful event at former Soldiers Garden

CRINKILL Tidy Village Committee had a wonderful afternoon in the former Soldiers Garden of the Leinster Regiment in Crinkill on Saturday last to formally thank MrJohn Smyth and Mrs Frances Smyth who generously donated the garden to the village of Crinkill, held in the trusteeship of the committee.

They were welcomed and thanked by chairperson Madeline Corboy. She also thanked Mr John Buckley, stone mason, who gave freely of his time and skill to re-establish a part of the entrance to the garden, Mrs Nancy Murtagh who gifted a hand carved sculpture for the centrepiece of the pond, and to their wonderful CE scheme worker Mr John Murphy.

The event was also held to open phase one of the redevelopment of the Soldiers Garden in which an orchard of heritage apple trees have been planted (Offaly Lady Finger), as well as 120 pollinator friendly plants and drills of heritage seed potatoes including the pre famine variety of Black Bog Potato.

Mr Brian Kennedy, local historian, gave a very knowledgeable and interesting insight into the Barracks at Crinkill and of how the gardens had been allotted to the soldiers to occupy them in their down time and to supplement their diet and he also spoke of how Crinkill thrived since the burning of the barrack 101 years ago.

Councillor John Clendennen and Councillor John Carroll also praised the wonderful efforts and hard work of all the volunteers of Crinkill Tidy Village. Everyone gathered was then invited to partake in a picnic laid on by the committee and also enjoy an ice-cream from the ice-cream van.