Home & Garden Spring/Summer 2019 by southernstarIRL

Home Garden &

SPRING/SUMMER 2019

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magazine for spring/summer 2019 In this super 32-page magazine you’ll find lots of articles, advice, images, ideas and hopefully some inspiration too, to help you get the most from your West Cork home and garden in 2019.

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Six of the best! The Southern Star’s resident interior design columnist Lauraine Farley gives us six of her top tips for 2019 1. Style your shelves

A common mistake made by homeowners, and something I see all of the time, is they fill their shelves with as many objects and family photographs as they can in order to utilise every inch of the space. However, one of the best ways to freshen up your home décor in 2019 is to free up your shelves while reserving a space on each for displaying interesting decorative pieces. In doing so, you’ll not only end up creating a sense of space in your home, but you could also turn your otherwise ordinary looking shelving into a stylish statement. Here’s an idea. If you’ve got an old, wooden shelf filled with stuff, take everything off it and give it a fresh new look with a coat of paint – maybe off-white or any shade that complements the rest of your décor. You could even use the same colour as your walls so that the shelf itself ‘disappears’ and the display takes centre stage . Once the shelf is painted, think about what you want to put back on it. Make sure not to clutter up the space – the key is to style your shelves.

2. Crush plush!

One of the hot new looks for bedrooms these days involves the

cabinets means you’ll have nowhere to hide clutter? Well consider using open shelves in just one area, maybe above the sink? You could alsl think about using glass doors in place of your standard cabinet door front. This is a great way to achieve the visual interest of your collections, but safe from having to constantly dust the shelves. Simple white dishes, clear glasses and colourful cookbooks are some staples that look great on display! This concept also makes it easy to change up the look; just rearrange your bowls, plates and coffee cups every so often! Be careful, though. It can be tempting to cram the shelves with too much stuff. Overstuffing shelves will defeat the purpose of the open concept look you’re going for. Pare back to only the most often used plates, bowls and glasses. Store the less used and nonvisually-appealing dishes in the cabinet space below.

introduction of crinkled, crushed and quilted velvets to dress beds. There is a moving away from the simplistic natural look that has been popular for so long and it is now time to turn your bed into a statement by draping it with velvet crush plush bedding for maximum style!

3. Old furniture

How can old furniture double up as a new source of inspiration? Sometimes the best interior design routes don’t require any new purchases at all as it is all about ingenuity and working with what you have at hand. So why not try moving furnishings around your home and experiment with new takes on the same old pieces? For example, you may have an old wardrobe in a spare room that is no longer being used – how about repurposing it for your kitchen/ dining space?

4. Open up your kitchen

Why not have open shelves installed in your kitchen? To get this look, simply ditch all your upper cabinets for 2-3 rows of simple shelving. Are you cringing at the fact that your dishes will be on display or maybe that the loss of

5. Textured wallpaper

A simple yet stylish way to add texture and create an interesting eﬀect in a room is to use textured wallpaper. There are so many papers to choose

from that the possibilities are endless, but some of the more subtle, raised patterned papers are what I like. For example, the eye-catching detailing of this tweed soft grey wallpaper is unlike anything I’ve seen before. Even from a distance you’ll noticed each raised area, giving your walls depth and creating gorgeous light and shadow eﬀects. With small scale houndstooth pattern and changing grey tones, this chic wallpaper design adds new dimensions to sitting rooms and studies.

6. Light up, light up

When looking at lightshades for your home don’t be afraid to choose a statement shade. Whether you go for an organic influence of (a) a natural rattan weave, or (b) the more feminine, fluff y and tactile nature of a feather shade the options are many. Practical statement lighting at its finest, this (c) three-light fixture commands attention and adds drama to your home decor. Bold yet simple design and bronze steel make for an interesting addition to your dining room or living room. Soft illumination in a sturdy ring frame creates a look that really stands out, while the drum shade of this 3-light fixture brings a contemporary feel.

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The renovation of the house at Airhill in Schull was completed in seven months. All photos (except demolition): Andy Gibson

Good taste and great design

The refurbishment of a Schull townhouse is the perfect mix of old and new, writes Emma Connolly AN end-of-terrace town-house in Schull village that dates back to preFamine times is the perfect example of what can be achieved with good design and great taste. Jo Morrissey and Eric Otto, who split their time between Spain and West Cork, bought the property on Airhill in 2017 by which time it had been on the market for almost three years. Their objective was to build a new modern structure within the conﬁnes of the footprint of the old house and keep the character of what’s known locally as old Dempsey farm. The project was quite the undertaking, one which a lot of people would have shied away from, and required a great deal of vision and investment. However it’s one they completed in just seven months (January-July 2018) and which Jo describes as a ‘dream come true’. The mum of two admits that splitting her time between West Cork and Spain was a diﬃcult situation to be in when it came to managing the build but said ‘once you have a strong competent team, you can achieve anything.’ And her team comprised West Cork

wasn’t the best stone work, and we could have just plastered over it but what we did was just roughly plaster over it and paint it to give it that nice old feel.’ Flagstones in the hallway compliment this look perfectly. They also mulled over retaining a stone outhouse to the side of the site

architect Leon Whelton, who she said was as detail-oriented as herself and builder Martin O’Meara of Harbour Homes Developments Ltd who she describes as ‘the best builder in Ireland.’ ‘Leon and Martin make a great team. What a pleasure it is to work with people who are passionate about their

‘... we thought it would be a shame to destroy something which we felt had historic value to the village’ work and always put in their best effort,’ she said. Leon explained how their initial decisions were based on what to keep and what to demolish. In the end, only the four walls of the front structure were left and three walls of the back structure. A new ﬁrst ﬂoor was rebuilt, a new roof on the back structure with a whole new back extension built from scratch. They kept some of the old thick walls because as Leon explains ‘you can never rebuild character.’ ‘We exposed the stone work. It

for some time. ‘Ultimately our decision was to leave it as we thought it would be a shame to destroy something which we felt had historic value to the village. Apparently folks coming into Schull on horseback used to deposit their horses at the stone house while they went about their business in town. It is a really nice visible feature for everybody going past the house,’ said Jo. Leon added: ‘If we knocked it, we could have gone for a bigger extension but in the end we retained it as a design feature.’

He pointed out that the new footprint of the house is only slightly larger than the old house, and that Jo and Eric achieved a lot for a relatively modest sized property. Zinc cladding on the extension which houses the kitchen, dining and living areas is one of the stand-out features of the property and Leon points out that they went for vertical lines on this finish to project height, rather than length. The rear extension also has attractive corner glazing and double back sliding doors on to the south-facing garden. Proof of the successful project is that Jo said she wouldn’t do anything differently. ‘Leon was so detail oriented, just like myself, that together we discussed every minor detail so thoroughly that in the end it paid off. The long hours spent looking at various options meant that you don´t deeply regret anything and when you´re spending a lot of money you want to get it right the first time. ‘I can´t tell you how much I love this house. It´s the greatest homecoming gift I’ve ever had after living and working abroad for so many years,’ she said.

Home&Garden Interior inspiration ...

The rear of the house now boasts large windows to allow natural light into the building.

Jo loves love the relaxed look of Scandinavian/country style with lots of natural woods and linens. ‘We also love the Costa Brava/ L´Emporda region and there are some very creative and wonderful antique stores that are a fountain of inspiration,’ she said. ‘Pinterest was my most used tool and source for ideas ... you can go down a rabbit hole with it but I love that kind of stuff and would spend hours not only finding ideas, but information on suppliers along with tricks and tips. I also got great advice from a very good friend who is an interior designer.’ Jo’s attention to detail is evident throughout the home with stand-out pieces including: - the kitchen backsplash is made of handmade natural clay tiles called zellige tiles, from Morrocco. - an antique (1910 approx.) Spanish shop-grey dresser. - living room rug which was shipped directly from a bazaar in Marrakech. - Gervasoni ghost sofa in the living room shipped from Italy. - AY illuminate lamps - one over the dining table and one on the way up the stairs. - Heerenhuis dining table shipped from Belgium.

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Window (and door) shopping The technological advances around insulation and home heating have been significant in recent years, particularly when it comes to windows and doors, where style is also a consideration. Aisling Meath sheds some light on the subject IN the 1690s the English monarch William III was short of money and in an attempt to solve the issue he introduced a very unpopular window tax. It is speculated that this is the origin of the expression ‘daylight robbery’ and meanwhile in Ireland rural dwellers came up with their own innovative approach to avoid paying the tax by the introduction of the half door. Designed to keep children from running out and chickens from running in, the door was closed at the bottom and left open at the top in order to maximize the light. Although fashions come and go; when it comes to windows for your home people still want to maximise the ﬂow of light and are therefore choosing to have bigger windows, and doors made with as much glass as possible. Over 20% of heat loss within the home occurs through having outdated windows and doors, resulting in expensive heating bills. By choosing thermally eﬃcient windows and doors you could reduce your heating bill by up to 40%.

The glazing is all-important and Wesco windows feature energy glass as standard, which maximises heat gain by retaining interior warmth and transmitting solar energy from outside. Thermo space bars connect

Conor McCarthy of Wesco in Ballineen and Michael Harrington of Harrington uPVC in Bantry are both well-positioned to shed light on the subject of choosing the best windows and doors for West Cork homes, as both run their businesses from within the region and understand the subject from every angle. Wesco have been providing service to their customers for over 40 years and offer a full range of PVC, thermally-broken aluminium and Alu-clad windows and doors which they manufacture themselves in Manch, Ballineen. Their recycling facility has the capacity to reduce the amount of waste material going into landfill by up to 55 tonnes each week, and all their frames feature up to 80% recycled material. ‘The latest trend is lift and slide patio doors,’ explained Conor McCarthy. ‘One of the main pitfalls we find is that when people are building, they often don’t pay enough attention to where windows, doors and glass should go in the first place, and they often end up with large glass areas facing the wrong direction.’

the glazing panes, helping to eliminate cold areas at the edge of the unit and thus reducing condensation. ‘We ﬁnd that the modern materials used in the manufacture of doors and windows work very well in all

Good quality modern windows have thermo space bars connecting the glazing panes, and so helping to eliminate cold areas at the edge of the unit and thus reducing condensation.

Home&Garden conditions and have advanced greatly over the last five years,’ continued Conor. ‘We offer a full range of passive doors and windows.’ In the context of windows, doors and energy efficiency in the home, ‘passive’ means there is a combination of high levels of comfort with very low energy consumption. Thermally efficient windows, insulation and heat recovery are key elements. Each passive house actively contributes to climate protection. U values take into account all the components of the window including the frame, glass and spacer bar, therefore the lower the U value, the more energy efficient the window. Michael Harrington of Harrington uPVC in Bantry, has been providing windows and doors to customers in West Cork since 1999. The company

When building a home or replacing windows it is very important to choose the right style of window which suits the style of the house or design. ‘People whose homes are exposed to the sea, or live on an island or near the coast, should give consideration to door handles. The best choice is stainless steel, as gold or chrome would be more susceptible to the elements,’ Michael advised. It’s recommended by the experts that people living near the sea should have their window and door hinges lubricated every six months.

manufactures all its own products as per customer requirements and was awarded an A rating by the National Standards Authority of Ireland for window energy performance. ‘All new houses require an “A” energy rating, which means that when you have your home heating on, the windows retain the heat in the house for a longer period of time than standard windows and glazing.’ explained Michael. ‘Some pitfalls we see when it comes to choosing windows is that people want the window colour to match the exterior colour of their home. However they really should opt for a colour that they like, because the colour of uPVC windows cannot be changed unless they are replaced. Another pitfall is people design their windows with horizontal bars at eye level, which obstructs their view.

‘By choosing thermally efﬁcient windows and doors you could reduce your heating bill by up to 40%’

A huge percentage of homes suffer heat loss through their entrance doors so these are also an important consideration. ‘The Palladio composite doors are one of the best performing composite doors in terms of thermal efficiency,’ said Michael Harrington. ‘They look like real timber doors but are made of fibreglass and come with a very low U rating.’ So considerations when buying new doors and windows should all be hinged on style and a passive approach!

It is recommended that all windows and doors be lubricated regularly, but particularly those on buildings in close proximity to the sea, which should be done once every six months.

Home&Garden

Protect your home and family

By Brian Moore

Burglary is by and large an opportunistic crime, and Sean O’Mahony of O’Mahony Security based in Newcestown (www.omahonysecurity.ie), said that homeowners can make their homes considerably safer by taking simple precautions and steps. ‘First and foremost, good locks on all windows and doors are your ﬁrst line of defence,’ Sean said. ‘Then it all depends on the size and layout of you home but for a standard house we recommend shock and contact sensors on windows and doors, in conjunction with one external motion activated light and an infra-red motion detector inside the house.’ These systems are easy to install and give the home owner the option

IT’S an unfortunate fact of life these days, but securing your home and property against intruders is of paramount importance – both for ﬁrst-time home owners and those who never previously felt the need to invest in a home security system. While Garda crime statistics show a slight decrease in the number of burglaries nationwide, a recent survey by PhoneWatch Ireland has revealed that there are regional increases in many areas. In fact in West Cork, the rate of burglaries in areas including Macroom, Bantry and Bandon, was up 13% from 115 to 130, as recorded in July 2018.

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to have their property covered at all times. The current high-end wireless alarm components are now every bit as reliable as their hard-wired counterparts. From 2011, the majority of residential alarms are wireless or a hybrid consisting of wired and wireless alarm components. Although wireless hardware approved by the NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) is more expensive, this is usually balanced out with savings in labour costs and a very unobtrusive installation. ‘The HKC system, which is manufactured in Dublin can be monitored, activated and deactivated using your mobile phone and you can also have the option of using a live camera, which will record and store activity on a hard

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drive. Again, you can use your phone to check on your home at any time, no matter where you are.’ Sean explained. These systems can be ﬁtted to new builds and to existing properties and depending on what you require can be as extensive as you desire. ‘You can go for a 24-hour monitoring of your alarm system if you require this,’ Sean continued. ‘This could include CCTV both inside and outside, and immediate connection with the Gardaí. However, these systems, while available, are mostly suited to commercial properties.’ The starting prices for a security system, depending on the home size and the requirements of the owners ranges between €700 and €1,000 for

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Home&Garden your average house. Of course, you can add extras, for example CCTV coverage, or internal cameras with external sensor lighting. ‘All-in-all an average house would cost in the region of €3,000 to ﬁt a good reliable alarm system,’ Sean said. ‘A surveyor will visit your home and conduct risk assessment and discuss the best home security system for your individual needs. After installation an engineer will guide you in the use of your home alarm until you are conﬁdent. ‘This is extremely important,’ advised Sean. ‘You must be comfortable with the system so that you can rely on

it and have peace of mind when you are away from your home.’ Remember, if your alarm is triggered most intruders will make a quick exit, especially when high-pitched internal and external sirens are activated. With an audible only alarm this is the end of the story unless neighbours or a passer-by reports a crime taking place. The sirens will cease in 15 minutes and the alarm will reset omitting the previously activated sensor. Another option, especially for elderly members of the community, is the installation of a panic button, which can also be linked to the home security system.

Smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms Burglar and intruder alarms are not the only precautions Sean O’Mahony of O’Mahony Security recommends: ‘Another very important addition for any home is the installation of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms. In a standard two-storey house, four detectors should be installed. Smoke detectors on each landing and in the living room, and a heat detector in the kitchen.’ Heat detectors are installed in rooms where smoke or fumes are part of the atmosphere. These might include kitchens, rooms with fireplaces, or garages for example. They are installed in homes in addition to smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for maximum safety. ‘By installing smoke and heat alarms, you will have early warning of a fire, which gives you time to act before you and your family are overcome by dangerous smoke and fumes.’ Carbon Monoxide alarms should also be installed as a backup to provide a warning to householders in the event of a dangerous build-up of the deadly gas – which is odourless and colourless and can therefore go undetected until it’s too late and there has been a fatality. ‘All of these alarms can be incorporated as part of your overall home security system.’ Sean concluded.

Many security systems now allow you to monitor activity in your home using your mobile phone, regardless of where you are provided you have a signal.

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Fab ﬁxes for your home ...

Trevor Perrott (BA Hons Interior Design) of Perrott’s Home Living Interiors offers some simple yet effective suggestions to get the most out of your living space Paint and mirrors

Paint smaller rooms in softer, lighter colours to help make them feel larger. Conversely, darker colours will make a room feel smaller. Light-coloured walls and ample use of mirrors not only reﬂect natural light pouring in through doors and windows but the use of mirrors also gives the optical illusion of space, making the room seem larger than it actually is. Placing mirrors directly across from windows will add instant light. Decorative mirrors can also be used in lieu of art to ﬁll empty wall space.

Mix it up

Mix up patterns and textures. Mix up old and new, expensive and inexpensive. There’s nothing wrong with placing family heirlooms alongside your modern couch. The most important aspect to decorating your home is that it reﬂects who you are, your personality and your style. The antique desk that was your grandfather’s tells a story. The modern couch you fell in love with and simply had to purchase

also tells a story – your present story. With fabrics – whether it be furniture, rugs or pillows, varied colours and patterns can bring warmth and texture into your space.

Give furniture the slip!

Slip covers often get a bad rap but they can serve as a means of changing your furniture’s look to reﬂect the seasons. These easily removed coverings allow you to have a sophisticated look without constantly worrying about people dirtying or spilling on your furniture, and they are ideal for rooms used frequently by children. This mirror is well-positioned to make this otherwise small bathroom seem much bigger and brighter.

Wicker baskets

Wicker baskets are an economical and elegant way to add storage to any room. Baskets can be used to store and display books, magazines, toys, towels and blankets – whatever you want really! Place a couple of small wicker baskets on the counter-tops in your kitchen to display and store your fruit and vegetables.

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Above: Another example of how clever positioning of mirror can make a space seem bigger and also reﬂect natural light. Also note the use of wicker baskets as features and storage solutions.

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Right: Need help with an interior design problem? Contact Trevor for a house call on 086-2420602.

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Make sure you’re connected The topic of broadband in the home is rarely far from the headlines, especially in the rural context. Aisling Meath speaks to local service providers about the options available here in West Cork ACCESS to the internet is essential to modern life and increasingly being viewed as a basic human right, and as important as electricity in maintaining and improving our communities. As well as being the tool of leisure, business and education, utilities are also increasingly being accessed online and therefore the majority of households require good broadband coverage in order to engage with the modern world. Meanwhile as the ongoing debate over the delay in rolling out the national broadband plan continues amid the escalating costs of bringing it to fruition, the people of rural West Cork carry on with their usual resilience and in many parts without the beneﬁt of broadband. ‘The majority of homes get broadband through a phone line but in rural areas the copper line quality is poor and the result is very slow speed, and typically the further you are away from an exchange the worse it gets,’ explained Jane Hurley of Digitalforge in Schull. ‘Fibre is available in only a very small number of locations and usually traverses the last part of the journey via the same poor quality copper cable which hasn’t been upgraded in decades, so there is a huge deterioration

Jane and Brendan Hurley of DigitalForge on one of West Cork’s highest points – Mt Gabriel – near Schull. This is just one of the locations for their masts which form a reliable and high-speed broadband network across West Cork. (Photo: Emma Jervis) of speeds over the last short distance.’ Mobile phone data is an option, only assuming that good signal is available and that you have very low usage requirements, but is usually quite expensive if the data allowance is exceeded. The current emphasis on sustainability and creating a lower carbon footprint has inspired many people to work from home, but for many

others becoming part of West Cork’s high tech digital economy cannot be a reality without internet access as its backbone. The fate of rural connectivity lies in the hands of broadband providers who are on a mission to keep West Cork connected, and luckily there are local companies providing solutions. Digitalforge began in May 2004

when Brendan Hurley, a computer professional with many years experience in Microsoft and other companies returned after 20 years abroad, and discovered that there was no proper internet connectivity available in his hometown of Schull. He began by building a wireless broadband network for the village and the surrounding areas, and as the demand for broadband escalated so the company has been bringing an increasing number of homes into the digital world. ‘We use ﬁxed wireless technology which doesn’t require phone lines. What you do need is a view of one of our masts, which are located in 32 sites around West Cork, typically on the top of local mountains or hills,’ explained Jane of Digitalforge. ‘We operate from Mizen to Kinsale, Bandon to Ballyvourney, towards Ailihies and in between. We also provide service to most of the islands in West Cork including those with as little as one house! ‘We ﬁx a small dish to the house, run a cable inside and install a WiFi router with the option of a phone. All this works wirelessly over the dish. ‘We usually get most customers installed within two weeks of them phoning us and can usually tell them

Home&Garden with a fair degree of certainty if the service is available within minutes of them calling us.’ she said. Providing high upload speeds is much appreciated by support workers from global companies such as Apple and Amazon who live in the region and work from home, and the service working perfectly during Storm Ophelia was a big plus. Rapid Broadband Rosscarbery cover a large area from Crossbarry to Skib-

bereen, along the coast, to the north of Coppeen and to the south onto Cape Clear. ‘Since 2005 Rapid Broadband have been bringing service to locations that may be out of reach and have made great eﬀorts to get broadband to houses which are well oﬀ the beaten track,’ explained Michael Twomey of RBR. ‘We are constantly upgrading our networks with the latest MaxWave technologies.’

Potential issues:

‘One of the most common issues we find is consumers do not have great WiFi within their homes,’ Jane Hurley of DigitalForge explains. ‘Older homes rarely have data cable installed and WiFi routers don’t often penetrate into every corner of the home.’ ‘Range extenders usually cause speed issues so we always recommend our customers run data (Cat5) cable and we recommend they install a second router ensuring that coverage in larger houses reaches every corner of the room. ‘If you are building or renovating your home you should have a conversation with your electrician about installing data cable during the construction phrase, especially since some modern building materials not only insulate against noise and heat loss but against Wifi signal penetration. ‘We have found that with more and more internet devices, families are getting online at a younger age and on numerous streaming devices. The amount of data traversing any one household can be quite surprising.’

Access to good broadband is becoming increasingly important with more and more services going online. This is particularly relevant in rural areas.

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Home&Garden Get maximum enjoyment out of your garden or patio by giving it a stylish makeover. From a simple string of fairy lights to an Insta-worthy fire pit, Emma Connolly picks 10 things to suit various tastes and budgets, and all are available locally

Glam your garden, pimp your patio! 1. Outdoor lighting

There are nearly as many options for outdoor lights now as there are for indoors, all of which help to create wonderful atmosphere in our gardens. Uplighting (placing a concealed light at the base of a tree) is a really easy way to create a subtle glow and introduce a little drama. Hegarty Lighting in Clonakilty stock an Italian range of outdoor light ﬁttings called Fumagalli. Made from resin, they are perfect for our maritime climate as they won’t rust or corrode. Their Tommy (€63 – far left) and Mini Tommy (€45) ﬁttings, suitable for uplighting, are on display in the showroom or online at hegartylighting.ie Ann, of Hegarty Lighting says: ‘Having a soft, beautiful glow in the evening will not only add a special touch, but it can also provide security and a way to enjoy your garden at night. Sit outside and relax while the soft glow shines over trees.’ Bandon Co-op retail centre also stock a great range of solar lighting (left) which look so pretty hanging from trees or draped around a trellis or pergola. Prices start from €3.99.

3. Church window mirror

We all know that mirrors can create interest and the illusion of additional space in our homes – but the same can be done with a garden space. This church mirror will bring an instant ‘wow’ factor to a patio or courtyard space. Plant trailing plants around it for extra style kudos. This one retails at €119.95 at Bandon Co-op retail centre who also stock other styles.

2. Garden furniture spray paint

A new range of spray paint for garden furniture has just hit the market and great results are being reported. Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish Garden Furniture Paint comes in a range of eight colours that makes updating and personalising your garden furniture really easy. With an ultra-durable, scrubbable, soft touch matt ﬁnish, it brings a new lease of life and colour to garden furniture. Retails for €13.95 at Bandon Co-op retail centre.

4. Tractor chairs and tables

Those who enjoy a little fun and something quirky will ﬁnd tractor tables and chairs hard to resist! They’re exactly as the name suggests and will appeal to vintage fans and would work perfectly in smaller garden spaces. Available in either grey and red from Bandon Co-op retail centre, with the chairs costing €119.95 and the table costing €329.95.

6. BBQs

This is a piece of kit worth researching and staﬀ at Drinagh Co-op retail centre in Skibbereen are on hand to help. Things to consider include how large your family is (eg how much space you’ll need on the grill) and how often you’ll use it. Lots of people invest in their BBQ and in turn use it all year round. Once you care and store it properly it should be a one-oﬀ purchase. Pictured is the Sahara, available from Drinagh Co-op, for €399.95.

5. Parasols

How many of us got caught out last summer during the scorching weeks when parasols couldn’t be found for love nor money? Don’t leave it until the last minute to pick up this most valuable of garden items. It all comes down to taste, but we quite like these tropical-inspired styles from Bandon Co-op retail centre, which cost €46.95.

Home&Garden 7. Fire pit

8. Steeltech sheds

These have become very on-trend in recent years and can elevate a regular patio to something far more sophisticated at sunset. Great for roasting smores with the family or just curling up with friends with some sun downers. Lots of people are incorporating permanent pits in their terraces at new-build stage, but if that’s not an option, this porto terrazzo eﬀect ﬁre pit for €194 is a stylish option from Drinagh Co-op’s retail outlet in Skibbereen.

For pure function (wheelie bins, lawn mower, paint etc) or something more fancy (den, hobby room), it’s no longer the case of a ‘humble’ garden shed. Steeltech sheds are an amazing addition to any garden. Deelish Garden Centre in Skibbereen are West Cork agents for the company and have four styles on display on-site. Starting from €1,000 they come with a 20-year guarantee.

9. Buddhas

10. Arched garden seat

Garden Buddhas have grown in popularity in recent years and are a really easy way to create interest in a garden nook or by a water feature. In fact, Noah Chase of Deelish Garden Centre, in Skibbereen says they’re his best sellers. They stock a vast selection from Indonesia in various positions and of various sizes, starting from €49, right up to a lifesize option for €1,000.

How lovely would it be to sit back and relax with your morning coﬀee and the newspaper in this garden seat or with something cooler on a warm day? Add some cushions, a sheepskin rug and some mood-enhancing fairy lights and it will become the most sought after seat in the garden! It’s €319 from Drinagh Co-op’s retail shop in Skibbereen.

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Getting started with vegetables Expert advice from The Southern Star’s resident gardening columnist Joyce Russell (Photos: Ben Russell) I you have never grown vegetables before, then this is a good time to start. The best tip of all is to start small and work your way up to larger things when you are comfortable with sowing and growing routines. It is possible to grow great salad in a large plastic tub with holes in the base and filled with compost. It is also possible to grow courgettes, strawberries and beans in plastic buckets, or herbs in large pots. If you want to have a more long term shot at growing, then it is worth making a raised bed. The bed doesn’t have to be raised too high, but the sides will define your plot and it is easier to keep things organised. A 2m x 2m bed is easy to make. It doesn’t command too big a part of a garden but you will be amazed at the amount of food you can grow in it. Fill the bed with some good rich compost or a mix of rotted manure and soil. You will have plenty of nutrients for the first year of growing.

Tips for a good first plot 1. Deﬁne your bed and keep it small. 2. Choose easy veg to grow and only

member that small plants can soon grow quite large! 6. Use organic approved slug pellets to protect vulnerable plants. You may only need to do this while plants are small or when they are ﬁrst planted out. 7. Look at the bed regularly and ﬁx

grow things that you like to eat. Rocket, lettuce, and mustard greens give a varied selection of salad leaves. Courgettes are easy, as are kale, beetroot and potatoes (although potato plants take up a lot of room and are as easily grown in buckets.)

‘It may be best to remove a problem plant ... you’ll soon fill the space with something healthy and different’ 3. Choose one or two tall veg like peas and climbing beans. These make use of vertical space and provide lots of delicious pods for the footprint they take up at the base. 4. Buy some small plants to start out. These are easy to find in garden centres and on markets. You can sow seeds as well, but it is easy to create an instant garden by using a range of small plants. Buy small trays with a few of each plant that you want. 5. Keep the bed watered and if things get too crowded, remove one or two plants. You will find planting distances online or in books. And re-

any problems before they become big ones. It may be best to remove a problem plant, so you aren’t looking at it and wondering what’s to be done. You’ll soon fill the space with something healthy and different. 8. Start to harvest while vegetables are at their perfect juicy best. If you leave them to grow big and tough, you will lose all the delicious benefit of growing your own. 9. Keep picking and enjoying crops for as long as plants keep cropping well. As soon as any start to fail then remove them and replace with something new. There should always

be something coming along to feed you in the weeks to come. 10. Enjoy what you do and enjoy the crops that you produce. There’s no perfect way to garden and every gardener has successes as well as failures. Embrace the experience and have some fun. Your garden will go from strength to strength as you learn more and grow more in the years to come.

From flower to fruit

A lot of fruit trees and bushes are in flower this month. You may look at all the blossom and start to plan what to do with the fruit that you are sure is due. But there are still a good few weeks, and a few hazards, between flowers and fruit. Look after your trees and bushes if you want to get bumper crops. • Protect blossom from frost. Cover bushes or branches if nights are to be below zero. A light frost will do little harm to berries and currants but a hard one can kill apple and strawberry blossom. • Protect from birds. Bullfinches love

Home&Garden to eat their way through a tree full of blossom. Do what you can to deter them with dangling and glittering objects tied on the tree. Birds will eat all kinds of ripening fruit, so cover what you can with bird-proof netting. Don’t leave any gaps or blackbirds and thrushes will ﬁnd a way in (and they may get tangled in the netting). • Water and feed. Keep the soil damp if you want to swell large juicy fruits. Apply liquid feeds round the base of trees and bushes. You can apply solid feeds, but liquid ones get where they are needed fast. • Thin fruits in June or July – if there are too many apples in a cluster then none of these will grow too big. Thin the number down to three and each one should reach a good size.

Things to do in the garden in April • Put up frames for climbing beans and sweet peas • Plant potatoes • Harden off plants raised with heat before planting them out. • Pot on small plants in pots before roots become crowded. • Ventilate greenhouses, polytunnels, cloches and frames. • Water before soil or compost starts to dry out. • Buy summer bedding plants and fill hanging baskets and containers. • Plant summer flowering bulbs. • Mow lawns and use seed-free clippings as mulch. • Weed beds regularly – this is easy to do while weeds are few and small. • Prepare the tomato bed and put up strong supports for each plant. • Keep an eye on the weather forecast and look after vulnerable plants.

What to sow in April BEETROOT

Dig soil over and incorporate some well-rotted compost or manure. Scatter wood ash or powdered seaweed to boost potash. Sow direct in drills outdoors.

CABBAGE

Sow seed thinly in pots or trays. Don’t let small seedlings overheat. Pot on to allow more room for root growth and plant out when 15cm tall. Add lime to acid soil.

CALABRESE

As for cabbage.

CARROTS

Sow direct in drills outdoors when soil is above 10C. Soil should be loose and as stone free as possible. Protect with insect proof netting.

CAULIFLOWER

As for cabbage.

COURGETTES

Sow one seed per 8cm pot at 20C. Plant outdoors over a hole filled with compost when risk of frost is passed.

FRENCH BEANS

Start seed in cells or pots and plant out when risk of frost is passed. You can sow direct in the ground if soil is warm enough, but sow a few extras to fill any gaps.

KALE

As for cabbage.

PEAS

Sow a double row over a trench filled with compost. Seed goes 5cm apart in the row and watch out for slugs and snails as seedlings emerge.

PUMPKINS

Sow seed in deep pots of compost at 20C. Be prepared to pot plants on into larger containers when they have two true leaves. Plant out over holes filled with compost and allow plenty of room between plants.

RUNNER BEANS

As for French beans.

SALAD

Sow salad leaves direct in drills in the soil and start lettuce in pots to grow small healthy plants.

SPINACH

Sow direct in drills or sow thinly in pots and plant out when 5cm tall.

SPROUTING BROCCOLI

6 1. Use small plants to fill a new vegetable bed; 2. Use organic approved pellets to protect against slugs and snails; 3. Look after blossom and enjoy the fruits; 4. Protect strawberry flowers from hard frosts; 12. Prepare to plant tomatoes; 11. Use a cold frame to harden plants off; 7. Sow kale now for a winter supply.

As for cabbage.

SWEETCORN

Use the deepest pots or root trainers that you have and sow one seed in each at 20C. Tiny plants fail in cold wet compost or in hot and steamy conditions.

7 19

Go to page 29 for your chance to win Joyce Russell’s new book!

Home&Garden

How to attract more insects to your garden By Joyce Russell INSECTS help to pollinate many of our fruits and vegetables and some will eat garden pests. Numbers are falling and we can all do our bit to encourage biodiversity and keep a thriving insect population in our own garden plots.

Do ...

– Grow a wide variety of flowering plants. These attract insects like hoverflies, bees and butterflies that feed on the nectar and pollen. Big colourful flowers are obvious choices, but also let some brassicas flower and herbs likewise. These smaller and sometimes odd-scented flowers can attract and feed large numbers of insects. – Make a bug hotel for insects to live in. This can be as simple as a block of wood with holes drilled in it to make a home for soli-

tary bees. Pinecones, straw and leaves can pack into a frame, or biscuit tin, to provide some shelter for lacewings. Butterﬂies hibernate through the winter in deep slots. Make sure the hotel is dry and not too near to the ground. – Learn to identify diﬀerent bugs so you know which are helpful and which are pests. – Leave some piles of dead wood and branches, for insects to make a home in. Ivy makes an excellent home for many insects – leave some to grow unchecked if it does no harm.

Don’t ...

– Use pesticides and fungicides that indiscriminately kill insects. – Be too quick to mow your lawn – dandelions, clover, and daisies are insect attractors. – Be too tidy! A few wilder areas will provide some good insect habitats.

Above: Bright coloured flowers attract insects. Left: Butterflies are attracted to flowering chives.

(Photos: Ben Russell)

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Home&Garden

Making the cut ... By Brian Moore THERE’S an old saying – ‘always have the right tool for the job’. This sage advice is particularly important before you undertake any work in the garden. For example, when it comes to lawn care – while not everyone’s idea of time well spent – and with the good weather on the way (hopefully!), now is a good time to consider the right lawnmower for you. There are of course, a multitude to choose from. These include personpowered push mowers to those run on batteries or by petrol. However, the ﬁrst question you must ask yourself is: ‘How big is my garden?’ ‘You can start with the push mowers and go right up to the ride-on mowers that will handle even a football ﬁeld,’ Brian Minehane of Cronin’s Hardware in Ballylickey told Home & Garden recently. ‘We also stock electric or battery-powered mowers and again depending on the size of your garden these can be an excellent option. But I have to say that it is the auto-mowers or robotic lawnmowers, which are in fact proving more and more popular these day.’

For the grass

Starting with push-mowers or the manual mowers, ideal for small gardens, prices start at €150 for something like the Husqvarna HiCut 64 (image 1) and between €360 to €880 for the push LC141i (image 2) and the self-propelled LC140s (image 3).

3 2 ance of your mower are also important considerations when it comes to deciding on the model that will work best for you. No longer seen as a fun little tool for those with small lawns and spare cash, the latest robotic or auto-mowers can easily deal with spaces up to the size of a football ﬁeld.

Another consideration for lawnmower user in West Cork, especially those who live close to sea, is the material used to make the deck of the lawnmower. Steel will rust very quickly when exposed to salt air or water so to cut down on maintenance, alloy or ABS bodywork is the best option. Ease of servicing and everyday maintain-

For example, check out something like the Husqvarna 315x (image 4), which is a fully automatic mower which will, after installation, cut a lawn of up to 1,600 sq m with ease. An auto-mower can cut at your chosen time of the day or night, can deal with slopes and rain, and will continue to mow over and over again until you tell

Home&Garden it to stop or you change its programme – and all this can be done from the comfort of your sofa via your smartphone. Prices start from €2,360 and go up to about €5,000.

Edges and hedges

‘Other pieces of equipment that a lot of people get wrong when buying for the ﬁrst time are grass trimmers and hedge trimmers,’ Brian said. ‘Again it is important not to get a trimmer that is too big for the job that you have.’ Comfort during prolonged use and noise are also factors worth bearing in mind. Prices for grass trimmers start at €260 for the battery-operated Husqvarna 115il (image 5) and go up to €500 for the petrol 129c model. When it comes to hedge trimmers you must ask yourself the following questions: ‘How often will I be using it and what am I going to be using it on?’ You can start with something like the battery-powered Husqvarna 115iHD45 (image 6) with its 36-volt motor and go up to the 325HE4x, which displaces 1kW of power and is able to tackle most jobs around the garden. Prices vary between €200 and

€400 depending on the motor and blade length. Of course, let’s not forget a good leaf blower and again the range is extensive, but for a good Husqvarna model expect to pay between €280 and €350. ‘Buy the best you can aﬀord, be realistic when it comes to the size of your garden and consider how often you will use the equipment,’ Brian advises. ‘Look at the after-sales service available and consider ease of repair and servicing, as well as the availability of accessories, such as extension arms, spare blades and so on.’ ‘However, remember to stay safe when using any garden equipment,’ Brian cautions. ‘Wear the appropriate safety gear (helmet, gloves, goggles, ear defenders etc) and always store your tools in a safe, secure place out of the reach of children.’

Garden machinery expert Brian Minehane of Cronin’s Hardware, Ballylickey.

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Home&Garden

Even small changes make a difference Paula Burns brushes up on good recycling practice in the home AT the end of March a pregnant whale was found dead in Italy with 48 pounds of plastic in its stomach. According to the New York Times, disposable dishes, shopping bags and a detergent package with its barcode still visible were found inside. With devastating news reports such as this, the topic of recycling could not be more pertinent. Over the last 20 years Ireland has gone from being one of Europe’s lowest performers to the highest for packaging recycling. Despite this, approximately 87,000 tonnes of nonrecyclable material end up in our recycling bins at home. Every small change can make a diﬀerence. It’s easy to become complacent and a touch lazy when it comes to recycling, however making simple changes at home can make recycling a habit you won’t want to give up on. Here are ﬁve tips to creating your home a greener space:

1 2 3 4 5

Have three separate bins in your kitchen. One for general waste. One for recycling. One for compost. Make the biggest bin your recycling bin. This way you will be more inclined to dispose of recyclables properly rather then ﬁlling up the refuse bin. Keep the recycling bin close to the sink, as this will create lighter work when cleaning contaminants from the recyclable materials. Print out posters from repak.ie of what can go into each bin and have them close to the bins. Create a star chart for the kids to encourage them to recycle.

When it comes to recycling eﬃciently, knowledge is paramount. Speaking to David Sheahan of KWD Recycling, I was surprised to discover just how much of our kitchen waste can go into the compost bin rather then the general refuse bin. The compost bin can be used for a lot more than just gardening waste and grass cuttings. ‘People often think of the compost

What can go in the recycling bin? PAPER

Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, envelopes, paper, sugar bags, computer paper, phone books, calendars, used beverage and juice cartons, paper potato bags, used school books (if they cannot be reused or donated), catalogues, diaries, milk cartons, holiday brochures, tissue boxes, letters, egg boxes, school copy books.

CARDBOARD

Food boxes, packaging boxes, cereal boxes, kitchen towel tubes, toilet roll tubes. Remember to remove all plastic inserts from cardboard boxes before placing into bin.

ALUMINIUM CANS

bin as a place to dispose of just grass cuttings and potato peels. However, this isn’t the case. Food stuffs from vegetable peelings to raw and cooked food can be disposed of here,’ explains David. ‘For example, if you have some uncooked chicken breasts to get rid of they can be put into the compost bin. Also chicken carcasses. However larger bones such as a leg of lamb cannot go in as they are harder to break down resulting in damage to the machinery in the recycling process.’ According to David, contamination of recyclable goods has a major impact on recycling processes. ‘The most important thing when it comes to recycling is ensuring that not only are the correct items put in the recycling bin but also that they are cleaned from all contamination such as food pieces,’ he says. ‘Quite often we’re finding things such as nappies in the recycling. This has a major effect on the recycling process and can result in an entire load being rejected at the re-processing mills.’ As recycling affects the entire family, getting the kids involved is a great way to start a lifetime habit while they are still young. Throughout West Cork there are a number of green schools who have created an environment where recycling is part of the consciousness. As part of a campaign to

encourage children to recycle more, David has visited schools to inform children about what they can do for the environment. ‘We gave the kids a brief talk and showed them a seven-minute informational video,’ explains David. “What really got their attention was a game we played with a prize for the winner, where we laid out all the rubbish on the table and got them to pick which bin each piece goes into.’ When it comes to recycling, things are always changing. As David points out, since China stopped taking our recycling there has been a major change in the fact that soft plastics can no longer be recycled. It’s uncertain if this will change in the near future, but for the moment, staying up-to-date and mindful of what can be recycled is important. David advises people to check out repak.ie on a regular basis.

Drink cans, empty deodorant cans, food cans, biscuit tins, soup tins.

PLASTIC CONTAINERS (Pet 1)

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PLASTIC CONTAINERS (HDPE 2)

Milk bottles, juice bottles, cosmetic bottles, shampoo bottles, household cleaning bottles, laundry detergent bottles, windowcleaning bottles, bathroom bottles. Containers should be empty when placed in bin.

PLASTIC CONTAINERS (PP5)

Yoghurt containers, margarine tubs, rigid food packaging, liquid soap containers, fruit containers (with netting removed). David Sheahan of KWD Recycling.

See: www.kwd.ie and www.repak.ie for more information.

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Home&Garden With barbecues on standby, lawnmowers tuned up and paintbrushes primed, we’re all wondering if we’re going to get a fine summer like that of 2018. Paula Burns gets an expert’s take on the science of weather forecasting

Predicting the unpredictable THERE is nothing as predictable as the unpredictability of the Irish weather. They don’t say that you can have all four seasons in a day in Ireland for no reason. Within a split second the sky can go from bright blue to a thundercloud of hail, so there is no wonder we are obsessed with trying to predict the unpredictable. Over the past few years the weather has given into this obsession by providing us with plenty to talk about. From the snow of 2010 to the most recent storms of Ophelia and the ‘Beast from the East’, our appetite for discussing the weather has definitely been whetted. Do such extremes leave us with no hope of ever predicting the weather? Skibbereen’s Vincent O’Shea, a meteorologist with Met Éireann, Ireland’s national weather service told Home & Garden recently: ‘It would be great to have a crystal ball when it comes to predicting the weather, but the reality is we don’t.’ Much to our dismay the science of predicting weather forecasts hasn’t taken a quantum leap into the future. Unfortunately, the weather can only be forecast for up to ten days. Even at that, accuracy begins to fall off after four to five days. Despite its unpredictability however, the weather can follow trends. According to Vincent, the weather generally averages out over long periods. ‘We have just seen the warmest winter on record. The months of December, January and February saw the highest temperatures for those months ever,’ he explained. ‘If we were to go by these figures and that the weather generally averages out over a long period, then unfortunately we could be looking at wetter and less sunny summer months. However, we can’t predict this with any certainty.’ News like this can feel like a shot to the heart especially after the summer we had last year. But don’t put the decking building plans on hold just yet. The optimists within us need to take the word ‘uncertainty’ as a positive. ‘From the years 2000 to 2010 our winters were very warm, so the averages over that long period looked as though there was a trend. Then in the November of 2010 everything went pear-shaped and we had the big

Weather forecasts for Irish summers aren’t always great and can prove frustrating for gardeners and anyone planing home improvements. Right: The mountains in Kerry are believed to be the reason for the West Cork micro-climate that often sees pockets of ﬁne weather in the area. Far right: Meteorologist and Skibbereen native Vincent O’Shea. snow, which was completely at odds with what went before. It changed the trend.’ said Vincent. With this in mind, Vincent is hopeful of a warm summer like that of last year. And West Cork may well be the sunniest area on our fair isle. Have you ever noticed bright blue skies over West Cork while the rest of the county

zerland or the Rocky Mountains in the USA, West Cork, which is a low-lying coastal region, is protected by the Kerry mountain range, which often acts as a buﬀer against the rain. ‘This is “Föhn” – a Swiss word. As the airﬂow comes over the mountain range, the descending air dries out as it is on the lee-side of the mountain.

‘It may sound old-fashioned but there was an old Irish word that people would say in West Cork to describe the weather in April and it was “Scairbhín”. This translates as a “short rough patch”’ is under a dark cloud? There is a scientiﬁc reason for this. ‘Due to the geography of West Cork there is something of a micro-climate at work here during the summer months,’ Vincent posited. ‘It can be a lot sunnier and drier in the summer but not in the winter. The reason is to do with how the coast is aligned and the prevailing south-west windﬂow.’ Just like the Alpine region in Swit-

This is the meteorological reason for warmer air and less cloud cover. The coastal zone eﬀect happens along a narrow strip from Schull up to Kinsale making it the sunniest part of the country.’ he explained. As a meteorologist, Vincent’s studies of the weather are scientiﬁc. While there is no denying science, growing up in Skibbereen, he would often here of certain ‘weatherlore’, which he will

admit there can be some truth in their predictions. ‘It may sound old-fashioned but there was an old Irish word that people would say in West Cork to describe the weather in April and it was “Scairbhín”. This translates as a ‘short rough patch’, meaning we are always due for a bit of a rough patch of weather in April.’ Another old tale to take heed of is that of the ﬁshermen of West Cork. Working out at sea every day they would become familiar with the shifts in the ocean, as the weather would begin to change. ‘It could be a calm day and the ﬁshermen would come ashore saying there’s a big swell out there so the weather is going to change,’ says Vincent. ‘They would be right as bad weather coming over the Atlantic does cause a sea swell.’ Without a crystal ball or a time machine there is no telling what to expect from the weather this summer. That we can bask in the glory of the West Cork micro-climate which gives us bright blue skies – who would have thought Kerry would give us such a gift?

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Home&&Garden Learn Learn how how to to save save time time and and effort, effort, but but still still enjoy enjoy a a great great harvest harvest Glebe Gardens in Baltimore will host a ‘No Dig’ course with renowned gardener Glebe Gardens in Baltimore will host a ‘No Dig’ course with renowned gardener Charles Dowding (right) on Saturday, May 25th next from 10am to 4pm. Charles Dowding (right) on Saturday, May 25th next from 10am to 4pm. Speaking about the event, Jean Perry of Glebe Gardens said: ‘We are very Speaking about the event, Jean Perry of Glebe Gardens said: ‘We are very excited to have Charles Dowding at the Glebe this spring to teach a one-day comexcited to have Charles Dowding at the Glebe this spring to teach a one-day comprehensive gardening course on growing all kinds of vegetables and many fruits prehensive gardening course on growing all kinds of vegetables and many fruits with less effort. with less effort. ‘This, a wonderful opportunity for people to learn from one of the most influ‘This, a wonderful opportunity for people to learn from one of the most influential gardeners of our time. Sharing his knowledge developed over many years, ential gardeners of our time. Sharing his knowledge developed over many years, he will aim to teach us how to grow simply, saving time and growing more plants he will aim to teach us how to grow simply, saving time and growing more plants with less effort.’ with less effort.’ Charles has explored and shared new ways to garden since 1983, most notably Charles has explored and shared new ways to garden since 1983, most notably organic and no-dig methods. By 1988 his market garden covered seven acres of organic and no-dig methods. By 1988 his market garden covered seven acres of undug beds. Now he crops more intensively and from just a quarter acre, grows undug beds. Now he crops more intensively and from just a quarter acre, grows year-round salad leaves and vegetables for local shops and restaurants. year-round salad leaves and vegetables for local shops and restaurants. Discover his original, weed-free and time-saving methods to achieve superb Discover his original, weed-free and time-saving methods to achieve superb results in both small and large areas. Charles has written nine books, writes for results in both small and large areas. Charles has written nine books, writes for national and international magazines, runs a YouTube channel, appears on TV national and international magazines, runs a YouTube channel, appears on TV and radio including BBC ‘Gardeners World’ and teaches extensively at home and and radio including BBC ‘Gardeners World’ and teaches extensively at home and abroad. abroad. He is the 2018 winner of the Garden Media Guild award ‘Social Media InfluHe is the 2018 winner of the Garden Media Guild award ‘Social Media Influencer of the Year’. encer of the Year’. The course costs €160 and includes lunch and refreshments. Limited spaces so The course costs €160 and includes lunch and refreshments. Limited spaces so book now by contacting Glebe Gardens. www.glebegardens.com book now by contacting Glebe Gardens. www.glebegardens.com

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