Page 66 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2023

Happy 100th Birthday
Harold Lawlor
On behalf of the NVS we would like to congratulate Harold Lawlor the Irish NVS Hon-President on his 100th Birthday year. Harold celebrated his birthday with his Family (all 140) at a party in Athy Co. Kildare on Sunday July 9th.
Harold is an Inspiration to all NVS members still winning All Ireland championship titles in his nineties. Harold, known as ‘The Boss’ by his family and friends says the secret to success is to use good quality seed, prepare your ground well using farmyard manure and timing.
The NVS are delighted to acknowledge his 100 years and his dedication to the advancement of growing quality vegetables in Ireland by awarding him a NVS silver medal. At the time of writing, it is planned that his medal will be presented to him by Medwyn Williams on August 11th in Ireland.
Harold has led an interesting and varied life. He was born in 1923 on Blackhorse Avenue, beside the Phoenix Park, Dublin
in the then newly formed Irish Free State. Growing up his family lived in what was reputedly the last surviving thatched house inside the city of Dublin boundary and his parents worked in the Horticulture Industry.
In 1939 the part of Phoenix Park around the American Ambassadors residence was ploughed, and for the duration of the war years Harold worked there growing vegetables to provide food for the people of Dublin. In his youth Harold was also
a noted Boxer and Soccer player for Drumcondra FC.
He’s also a talented Artist and produced his own Christmas cards. After the war Harold left Dublin to work in the gardens of a large estate in Carlow, then in 1949
he took up a position as Head Gardener
on Captain Hamilton’s estate Moyne in Durrow, Co. Laois, he settled in Durrow and eventually set up a successful Florists and Garden centre business there.
Harold receiving his Silver Medal from Medwyn
NVS Ireland 200 Club
Below are the last three months draw results, congratulations to our winners.
Monthly draws will continue until December.
IF YOU’RE NOT IN, YOU CAN’T WIN!
Month
1st Prize – €60
2nd Prize – €20
June
O’Connor’s Fruit and Veg, Co. Clare
Raymond Higgins (Donated back to society)
July
Harold Herlihy, Co. Clare
John Harford, Co. Dublin
August
Vera Colleran, Co. Roscommon
Christina Mulcahy, Co. Cork
66 Simply Vegetables