merrion street

GLAS, Ireland’s national trade only horticultural event took place today (19 July 2012) at Citywest Events Centre, Saggart, Co. Dublin. The show, now in its second year, attracted a very good attendance with over 110 exhibitors participating. The one-day show provides a unique networking opportunity for exhibitors and attendees generating business and sales opportunities.

Shane McEntee, T.D. Minister of State with special responsibility for Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was among those in attendance at the show. Speaking at the Show, he stated that “not withstanding the current difficulties the atmosphere at the show and the level of business being transacted was very positive”. The Minister commended the industry for its innovation and repositioning following the downturn in construction. He also commended the excellent landscape designers in the business that had been successful as far afield as Singapore, Chelsea and Bloom and hoped that their success would encourage others.

The Minister stated that he was confident about the future prospects for the industry as evidenced by the increased number of exhibitors attending GLAS this year. The Minister cited the number of applications received by his Department from the amenity sector under this year’s Scheme of Investment Aid for Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector as further evidence of the potential and confidence that exists within the sector. He indicated that since 2008, €3.2 million in grant aid has been paid to applicants from the Nursery Stock and related Ornamental Sectors. This has supported capital investments of about €8 million by the industry. In 2012 a further €1.2 million has been allocated to 41 applicants from the Nursery Stock and related Ornamental Sectors and he expected that this money would be paid out by the end of 2012.

Finally, Minister McEntee urged continued support for GLAS, highlighting its role in bringing all the different elements of the amenity sector together. He hoped that the show would continue to grow and expand over the coming years.