Consumers spending €2.5bn a year on horticulture

IRISH consumers are spending over €2.5 billion a year on horticultural products.

That’s more than what they fork out annually on combined meat and dairy purchases.

These figures were revealed when Robert Challoner, Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny, was named the Royal Dublin Society Horticulture Student of the Year Award winner for 2007.

He made horticulture, which was his hobby, a career in 2004 after 15 years working in the catering industry.

Billy Nagle, chairman, RDS Agriculture and Rural Affairs, presented Mr Challoner, a Kildalton College student, with his awards at a ceremony in the Co Kilkenny College.

The prestigious award include an RDS perpetual trophy, an RDS silver medal and a cheque for €2,500.

Mr Challoner is planning to set up a design, build and plant service for small and medium-sized gardens in the south-east.

He has already earmarked his prize-money for the purchase of equipment for his business.

Runner-up in the competition was Marie Hurley, College of Amenity Horticulture in the National Botanic Gardens, who was presented with an RDS Merit Award and a cheque for €1,000.

Each year all five colleges of horticulture in Ireland nominate their two best final year students to compete for the award.

Anne James, principal of the judging panel, described Robert Challoner and Maire Hurley as two of a growing number of very} talented people opting for a new career in the rapidly expanding amenity horticulture area.