Big award and chats with President and Bishop for Laois 100 year old gardener

A Laois great grandad has rounded off hectic 100th birthday celebrations with a prestigious award given for the first time in Ireland, right after meeting the Bishop and the President.

Famed Durrow gardening expert Harold Lawlor enjoyed his 100th birthday party on July 8 with over 160 guests, all family members including 103 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

That alone was a day to remember, with all but one of his 11 children able to make it to the Clanard Court Hotel for a special meal.

Just four weeks before, Harold along with his daughter Elaine, son Martin and daughter-in-law Mary, were guests of President Michael D Higgins and Sabina Higgins at Aras an Uachtaráin, to thank Harold for his expert advice on updating the President's prized dahlia flowerbeds.

This week, Harold is heading back on yet another invite to the Aras, to see how the dahlias are blooming at their best.

On August 15, the Bishop of Ossory Niall Coll visited Harold in Brookhaven Nursing Home to wish him a happy 100th birthday.
He also visited Laois lady Mrs Phelan from Tentore, Ballacolla who has also celebrated her 100th birthday in the home.

“His social life is ten times better now than when he was a young lad,” joked his son Martin, speaking to the Leinster Express.

The National Vegetable Society Silver medal is the highest award anyone can get from the National Vegetable Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
The President of NVS Medwyn Williams MBE presented Harold with his medal, at a family event in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel.

“The NVS are delighted to acknowledge Harold Lawlor for his dedication to the advancement of growing quality vegetables in Ireland by awarding him a NVS silver medal. Congratulations Harold from all your friends in the NVS,” they said.

Below: 100 year old Harold Lawlor from Durrow is presented with a silver medal for service to the vegetable growing public by Dr. Medwyn Williams MBE, president of the Vegetable Society of Great Britain and Ireland at the Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix. Included in picture are Mary Lawlor, Martin Lawlor and Colin Lawlor. Picture: Alf Harvey.

It follows an NVS Fellowship Award presented to Harold in 2019 for services rendered.

Martin said the family are all very proud of the man they fondly call The Boss.

“A lot of people are only remembered or honoured after they die, but I always think it's far better done when they are alive so they can appreciated it better.

“Dad has 200 birthday cards all behind his bed, from all over the country and even from Germany and Australia.

“He is quite happy and content. He had to move to the nursing home last February for various medical reasons. He's telling the people there how to grow everything.

“They call him the charmer. The staff look after him so well. When the Bishop visited they laid out the good china in a sitting room. When he won the medal they all lined up outside the door to welcome him back. They are excellent,” he said.

Below: Harold is presented with a silver medal for service by Dr Medwyn Williams MBE, president of the Vegetable Society of Great Britain and Ireland at the Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix. Picture: Alf Harvey.

A champion vegetable grower, competition judge and horticultural advisor, Harold had first began winning awards for his vegetables at the age of 12, learning from his Dublin parents who were market growers.

His first big role was managing the vegetable garden in the American embassy during WWII.

In 1949 he married florist Sheila from Rathmines and they moved to Bagnelstown in Carlow to run the gardens in Dunleckney Manor, and later to Captain Hamilton Estate in Moyne, Durrow.

The big houses competed back then for the best crops and Harold won every prize possible for many years.

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In 1966 the couple opened a nursery in Durrow and after retirement, Harold returned to his winning ways in competions like the Tullamore Show, his first to miss this year in many years.

Martin and his brother Oliver took on the nursery and adapted and grew it but it is winding down now, as the brothers are past retirement age themselves and the next generation have other careers.

“It's ticking over, we still do weddings, funerals and bouquets, but it will finish with this generation. We are in the process of retiring,” Martin confirmed.