West Cork initiative could see rural Ireland bloom like its hedgerows

There are signs now though that rural Ireland has lots of fight in it yet, writes Fergus Finlay.

MY SISTER Finola, a devoted resident of West Cork, seems to me to know the name of every plant in every hedgerow for miles around. If she’s baffled for any reason, my missus can usually make an educated guess. And if they’re both stumped, Finola’s husband Robert can usually fill in the blank. Or will pull a weighty tome on botany down from his book shelves.

Me, I’m a complete ignoramus. I know what fuschia looks like, but there it stops. So I’ve been learning all about montbretia, meadowsweet, dog roses and dog violets, hogweed, and ragwort. I’ve seen rose hips the size of tomatoes, and wild roses of all colours. The honeysuckle is gorgeous, and in a month or so, West Cork, from the look of things, is going to be drowning in blackberries.