County Clare’s first ever local authority allotment scheme was launched in Shannon today.Interest from local families in cultivating their own vegetables and fruit has been so great that all 37 allotments have already been reserved while a further ten families have been placed on a Clare County Council waiting list. The successful applicants have been provided with plots, each measuring 10m by 15m and costing 40 euro per annum.
Launching the scheme today, Mayor of Clare Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn said that increasing numbers of people were now growing their own food due to the current financial situation. “By creating new growing spaces Clare County Council is helping people to start growing for the first time”, commented the Mayor. She added, “Many people have realised that renting an allotment plot and growing their own food is much cheaper than going to the local supermarket. As a result of this growing enthusiasm for homegrown food, we are seeing more and more allotment gardens being developed throughout the country. County Clare is no different and the interest generated by this new scheme has been exceptional.”
Mayor Taylor-Quinn noted that the growing interest in allotments was not instigated by the worsening financial situation alone. “Having an allotment is a great way to exercise as well as cultivate your own food for a healthy diet. Working on an allotment is also regarded as a great family day out. Many people take great satisfaction from sowing seeds and harvesting the fruit and vegetables of their labour”, she stated.
Allotment schemes in Ireland have their origins in 1916 when the threat of German blockades and increasing unrest at home led to the establishment of the City Allotment Scheme in Dublin and Belfast. Until recent years, allotments had virtually disappeared in Ireland, compared to the 1940s when there were an estimated 40,000 around the country.
“The idea to develop the Shannon allotment scheme originated in 2006 when local Councillor Patricia McCarthy requested the Local Authority to explore the possibility of making land available for allotments”, explained Michael McNamara, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Services, Clare County Council. He continued, “So as to ascertain the level of interest there would be in such a scheme the Council invited expressions of interest from householders in the Shannon Town area. The Council then had to locate an area of land in Shannon that would be suitable for allotments and that would also easily provide facilities such as car parking. Eventually lands in the vicinity of the new burial ground at Illaunmanagh were identified as being suitable. It is now timely with the arrival of the growing season to allocate the plots to the applicants”.
Commenting on Ireland’s latest allotment scheme, James Kilkelly of www.allotments.ie and popular gardening forum www.irishgardeners.com said, “This timely move puts County Clare on the allotment map and should get the ball rolling in further towns and counties bereft of these communal growing areas."
Meanwhile, Clare County Council was today urged to develop allotments schemes throughout the County. Councillor Patricia McCarthy said that the significant demand for plots at the newly launched Shannon Allotment Scheme, the first such scheme to be managed by the local authority, indicated the potential demand for similar schemes elsewhere.
The Independent Councillor first proposed making land available for the provision of allotments in County Clare in February 2006. Following this Clare County Council set about ascertaining the level of interest there would be in utilising such allotments.
“I am delighted with the outcome, and that the day has finally arrived when allotments are once again available under a structured scheme for allocations”, stated Councillor McCarthy. She continued, “Clare County Council should now examine the possible extension of the scheme, if not at the current location then elsewhere around Shannon. Furthermore, the keen interest being expressed by local families wishing to cultivate their own fruit and vegetables indicates that the scheme would be successful elsewhere in County Clare.”
Councillor McCarthy suggested that the expansion of the allotment scheme offered new employment opportunities. “Clare Adult Learning Centre recently provided Horticulture Classes in West Clare, which proved to be extremely popular. I believe that the local authority should examine the possibility of working with the Centre to provide such classes in Shannon and elsewhere as this is an area with potential for self employment or direct employment opportunities going forward,” she added.
