I have in the past often complained about spending time sitting at an electric car charging point waiting for the car I was driving to charge. But at the end of March while drivers of petrol and diesel cars were queuing for fuel, I simply drove to the Tesla’s Irish headquarters in Sandyford and charged the new Tesla model Y

When Tesla first came to Ireland in 2017 they made a really attractive offer to attract new customers and anybody who bought a Tesla in the early part of 2017 got free charging for life at a Tesla Supercharger location. 

The good news for Tesla drivers is that a new Supercharger site is due to open very soon in Blanchardstown and that will be followed by two more in Rathfarnham and one near Dublin Airport. By the end of the year Tesla say they will have 18 Supercharger sites in The Republic at locations in: Letterkenny, Limerick, Longford, Mallow, Sligo and Wicklow.

That’s a long introduction to the updated version of the Tesla Y. In recent years Tesla has caught the public’s imagination and it was debateable whether Elon Musk’s connections to Donald Trump was a help or a hindrance. Elon has moved on from the White House and now it looks like Tesla are focussing on reducing the price of their cars.

As with all new revamps the second version of the Tesla Y is bigger, better and more comfortable to drive than the previous version. Tesla’s engineers paid a lot of attention to the suspension and tyres, which were Hankook in this instance. My test car came in Diamond Black, a colour the late Henry Ford would have liked, but I think there are probably better colours to showcase this new car.

The Tesla badge is dropped and there are very slight exterior changes. You would probably need to be wearing you Tesla Anorak to spot them all.

Inside there is plenty of room for five well-built adults. You still that minimalist, clean look and everything is controlled from the 16-inch screen that dominates the dash. From that screen you can perform a multitude of tasks like moving your seat, opening the boot, the frunk and the glove compartment. There are only two slave controls on the steering wheel. The seats are grey, but you get a white roof-lining, which certainly brightens the décor.

The boot is massive, officially 835 litres of space, and there is more discreet space underneath for the charge cables or you could store the cables in the Frunk. You can get even luggage space by leaving down the back seat and that can be done by pressing a button in the boot. You don’t get a key fob to start the car, only a Tesla card and the safest place to keep that card is attached to the lanyard provided by Tesla.

With a full charge you should get close to 500km and you can get from zero to 100km/h in just four seconds. I liked the car, but wasn’t made about the colour. Prices for the Rear-Wheel Drive start at €42,990, while the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive model starts at €46,990.

SIMI figures showed that 3,851 new electric were registered in the month of March, which was 52.1 per cent higher than the 2,531 registrations in March 2025.  I wonder will the events at the end of March where fuel distribution around the country was seriously disrupted, encourage more Irish people to switch to electric cars?

by John Hosford

June marks one of the busiest and most rewarding periods in the gardening calendar. With the risk to tender plants now largely passed, it is the ideal time to move many flowers and vegetables outdoors and make the most of the growing season ahead. Careful planting, feeding and regular maintenance this month will help ensure strong growth, colourful displays and productive harvests throughout summer.

Vegetable garden

June is the time to plant out tender vegetables. Basil, parsley and lettuce can all now be moved outdoors, while courgettes, pumpkins, squashes, vegetable marrows, outdoor cucumbers and melons should be planted into rich soil that has been generously improved with well-rotted farmyard or stable manure. Before planting, work in a good organic fertiliser and water thoroughly once plants are in position.

Slug and snail damage can become a problem at this stage, so close observation is important. Weathered wood ashes placed around vulnerable plants may help discourage attack. These larger vegetable crops should generally be spaced one metre apart to allow for healthy development.

Applying straw as a mulch around developing plants offers several benefits. It suppresses weeds, reduces moisture loss and prevents soil splashing onto fruit as it matures.

Runner beans, French beans and climbing French beans that were started indoors can now be transplanted into their final growing positions. Outdoor tomatoes can also be planted out and perform best in a sunny, sheltered location. Tumbling tomato varieties are especially suitable for hanging baskets, window boxes and patio containers as they mature quickly and produce flavour-packed crops. Choosing blight-resistant varieties is recommended.

June is also an excellent month for direct sowing outdoors. Beetroot, carrots, Chinese cabbage, Florence fennel, lettuce, pak choi, peas, spinach and spring onions can all be sown now. Vegetable plants started indoors during April and May should also be planted out.

Early potatoes can begin to be harvested this month. Gardeners should remain alert for signs of blight and monitor weather updates from MET Éireann.

Plants for summer baskets and containers

Summer baskets and containers provide long-lasting colour and there is an extensive selection of flowering and foliage plants available to create displays that remain attractive throughout the season.

Trailing foliage plants such as Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, Helichrysum and ivies provide texture and contrast when combined with flowering plants. Begonias continue to be a dependable choice thanks to their weather resistance, extensive colour range and ability to flower into late autumn.

Members of the daisy family also perform exceptionally well in containers. Argyranthemum varieties, available in white, yellow and pink, work particularly well as central feature plants and combine effectively with Surfinias, Petunias, Sanvitalia and Osteospermum.

Lobelia remains a summer classic and is available in shades of blue, white, lavender and red in both trailing and bush forms. Impatiens, or busy lizzies, are another excellent option for shaded areas, bringing bright colour that continues late into autumn.

Pelargoniums, commonly known as geraniums, thrive in sunny positions. Ivy-leaf varieties create trailing and cascading displays and are available in pink, red, white and lavender shades. Zonal pelargoniums make strong centrepieces for patio containers and provide reliable long-lasting colour. To keep them performing well, deadhead regularly, remove mouldy leaves and avoid wetting foliage and blooms to reduce the risk of fungal problems.

Fuchsias are highly rewarding container plants and come in both bush and trailing forms with single or double flowers. With proper care they can continue flowering until November. Gardeners should remain watchful for vine weevil and treat if necessary. They are particularly suitable for shaded and north-facing locations.

Edible planting can also be incorporated into containers. Tumbling tomatoes, strawberries and herbs work well in hanging baskets, while larger patio containers can accommodate colourful vegetables including red cabbage, Kale Black Tuscany, dwarf curled kale and Savoy cabbage.

Sweet peas, climbing runner beans and climbing French beans can all be successfully grown in large containers when supported with a wigwam structure.

Successful baskets and containers depend on consistent care. Water regularly and avoid allowing compost to dry out. Feed weekly from June through October using a seaweed-based liquid feed. Replace damaged or rusted basket chains, use fresh compost enriched with slow-release fertiliser and consider installing a watering system if extended absences are planned.

Fruit garden

Fruit garden maintenance becomes important in June. Peaches, plums and nectarines should be pruned during this period to encourage healthy growth and productive cropping.

Rhubarb can continue to be harvested until the end of the month. Plum trees carrying heavy crops may require thinning early in June to reduce stress on branches. Supporting heavily laden branches will also help prevent breakage.

Under cover

Greenhouse and protected growing areas require close attention as temperatures rise. Damp down regularly in warm weather and maintain a consistent schedule of watering and feeding.

Remove tomato sideshoots promptly and, if they have become strong, cut them cleanly using disinfected secateurs. Glasshouses may need shading through paint-on products or blinds to reduce excessive heat.

Young plants and seedlings should be potted on as required and grape vines must be checked regularly to ensure adequate watering.

Requiring attention this month

Regular hoeing of weeds remains one of the most effective maintenance tasks and is best carried out early in the day when sunshine or drying conditions are expected.

Tall perennials should be staked before they become vulnerable to wind damage.

Roses benefit from a final summer feed at this time. Continue preventative care against blackspot, mildew and rust, and remove suckers promptly as they appear.

With attentive watering, feeding and seasonal maintenance, June offers the opportunity to establish healthy gardens that will continue delivering colour and harvests well into the months ahead.

That is one of the biggest financial issues quietly sitting in the background for so many Irish people right now. We are healthier, we are working longer, and retirement is no longer a short chapter at the end of life. Many people could spend 20, 25, or even 30 years in retirement, yet surprisingly few have sat down and worked out what that might actually cost.

I think people are often shocked when they realise how little the State pension alone provides. At the moment, the full contributory State pension is just over €277 per week. While that absolutely helps, for most people it is not enough on its own to maintain the lifestyle they are used to, especially when you factor in rising bills, inflation, healthcare costs, and simply the cost of living in Ireland now.

Between mortgages, childcare, school costs and the general cost of life in Ireland, pensions often end up at the bottom of the list. A lot of people still think retirement planning is something you start thinking about ‘later’. Later when the kids are older. Later when the mortgage eases. Later when work calms down. But the reality is that later comes quickly, and the difference between starting a pension at 35 versus 45 can potentially result in a significantly larger pension pot by retirement age.

I regularly meet people in their fifties who genuinely thought they were ‘grand’ until they actually sat down and looked at the numbers. Most are not reckless with money. They simply never had anyone explain retirement planning in a way that felt realistic or achievable.

Compound growth sounds like financial jargon, but it is actually quite simple. It means that your money starts earning money too. If you invest €100 and it grows by five per cent, you now have €105. The following year, you are earning growth on €105 rather than the original €100. Over years and decades, that snowball effect becomes incredibly powerful. That is why starting earlier, even with smaller amounts, can often leave somebody in a much stronger position than someone trying to catch up later with larger contributions.

The same applies in reverse with inflation. Money sitting in a current account might feel safe, but if it is not growing, inflation is quietly eating away at it in the background. €100,000 sitting in cash today simply will not buy the same lifestyle in twenty years’ time if the cost of living continues to rise.

When clients come in to us for a financial review, we usually start at the finish line and work backwards. Instead of asking people what they think they can afford to put into a pension now, we ask what kind of lifestyle they want later on. A common rule of thumb is aiming for a retirement income of roughly 70 to 75 percent of your current salary in order to maintain a similar standard of living.

For example only, and not financial advice, if a couple currently earns a combined salary of €100,000, we may aim for a retirement income of around €75,000 between them. One way of estimating the pension fund required is multiplying that figure by approximately 24, which would suggest a target fund in the region of €1.8 million. Suddenly retirement stops feeling vague and becomes something much more tangible and real.

From there, we work backwards. We factor in what State pension entitlements may look like, any existing work pensions, old pensions from previous jobs, savings, investments, and even property assets. Many people have pensions scattered across old employments and have no idea what they contain or how they are performing. Part of our role is helping clients find those pensions, review them, and understand whether they still suit their goals and timelines. Many people in Ireland are asset rich on paper but pension poor in reality, particularly those who may own property but have not built enough retirement income outside of it.

Retirement planning is rarely just one pension pot. It is more like a four pillar structure. You may have your State pension, private pensions, savings and investments, and property or other assets all contributing towards your retirement lifestyle. For some people, there may also be future inheritance or business assets involved. The key is making sure those pieces are actually working together rather than sitting in isolation.

That does not always mean starting from scratch. Sometimes it is about amending what is already there. In some cases, we may recommend increasing pension contributions. In others, it might involve reviewing investment strategy or setting up additional savings and investment plans alongside pension contributions to improve flexibility later on.

What surprises many people is how tax efficient pensions can actually be in Ireland. If you are paying tax at 40 percent, a €1,000 pension contribution may effectively only cost you around €600 after tax relief. For business owners and self-employed individuals, pensions can also become a very valuable long-term planning tool. Many business owners spend years reinvesting back into the business while neglecting their own retirement planning in the process. Pension contributions can offer significant tax advantages while also building personal financial security outside of the business itself.

One of the biggest issues I see is people being either too cautious or too overwhelmed to start. Some are afraid to invest because they think it means taking huge risks. Others have pensions they have not reviewed in years and genuinely have no idea what they are invested in. Many people are sitting in default funds that may not actually suit their stage of life or retirement goals.

This is where advice becomes important, because there is no one size fits all approach. Someone in their thirties may be able to take a very different level of investment risk compared to somebody planning to retire in five years’ time. For clients approaching retirement, we are often looking more closely at structure and accessibility. How much should stay in cash? How much should remain invested? What level of monthly income will realistically be needed? Many people are surprised to learn that pensions can often be accessed from age 50 once they have left that employment, which makes timing and planning incredibly important.

The reality is that retirement is no longer something that ‘just works itself out’. Defined benefit pensions are far less common, people are living longer, and the cost of living continues to rise. Hoping things will somehow fall into place is not a strategy.

The good news is that you do not need to fix everything overnight. A pension review, increasing contributions slightly, understanding what you currently have, or even just having the conversation is a huge step forward. Small changes made consistently over time can completely change outcomes later on.

Because at the end of the day, retirement planning is not really about numbers on a page. It is about freedom. Freedom to slow down when you want to, not because you are forced to. Freedom to enjoy your life without financial panic. The ability to make choices on your own terms.

And ultimately, that is the pension gap nobody talks about. It is not just the gap in money. It is the gap between the future people hope for and the plan they currently have in place to support it.

Halpin Wealth Management offers free consultations. Visit www.hwm.ie  or email info@hwm.ie to learn more.

by Liz Mahony

The first couple of lines from Rudyard Kipling’s poem, ‘If’, came to mind the other day: “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs!..”

One of my neighbour’s hens had forced her way through the metal confines of her run. She was happily plucking away at the grass and earth in the garden area, totally oblivious to my consternation and Saffron’s interest!

Receiving no reply from my text to said neighbour, I realised the situation was solely in my hands. I approached the problem in totally the wrong way forgetting about my professional dog training skills. Thus I tried to hem her in assuming she would return back into the run through her escape route. But, she had other ideas! She wasn’t going to give up her new-found freedom that easily, proceeding to run hither and thither like the proverbial ‘headless chicken’. Please forgive the deliberate pun!

My actions panicked her further, so she kept trying to force her way back into the run by sticking her head into various narrow spaces in the metal fence, through which the latter part of her body had no hope of following! Then Saffron decided I needed her help and got rather excited. Having twice despatched her offers of assistance with a ‘flea in her ear’, I took a deep breath, slowing down to take stock of what, if anything, I had currently achieved! The first realisation was that my efforts so far had only exaggerated the circumstances. Gathering my wits, I went off to get a cup of hen food and opened the main gate to the run after grabbing a towel from the kitchen.

The towel was a last resort. I didn’t fancy handling her, as I was certain to get pecked or clawed in the ensuing debacle. If the worst came to the worst, I might have to throw the towel over her and then secure her with a rugby tackle! Fortunately, it didn’t come to that! Instead I began to review the situation in a more grounded manner.

Firstly, I chucked some hen food into the run to keep the other hens focused on food rather than also escaping through the open gate to join their wayward companion in her escapade. That worked except the lady on the outside decided she didn’t want to miss that food, so she once more vainly attempted to force her way back through the metal bars instead of through the open hole that I’d intentionally aligned with the food inside. I’d imagined she might be clever enough to remember the hole and go back through it again. What a vain hope!

After another deep breath, I backed away from her even further to encourage her to come nearer to the open gate and out of the paddock to which she kept seeking refuge from me. The danger with the paddock was that it had two equine inhabitants who would either have crushed her under their hooves or chased her around the field and panicked her even further. But, luckily, they were oblivious to the excitement.

Steadying my nerves, I slowly advanced on her from the opposite direction to the open gate and began shaking the container with the remaining food. At first, that

made her run the other side of the open gate between it and the fencing and more vain attempts to squeeze through more narrow, unrelenting gaps! Time for me to back away again.

Taking yet more deep breaths, I slowly approached her again. Each time she ran the wrong side of the gate until finally she strutted inside, as though nothing untoward had happened, rejoining her companions while I slammed the gate shut. Heaving a sigh of relief I rewarded them all with the remains of the feed and blocked up the hole in the fence.

And what has the above got to do with dog training, I hear you ask? In a word: Everything! Just bear with me for a little longer. At the beginning of this episode, I, too, was running around like that proverbial ‘headless chicken’, and getting nowhere. I couldn’t even think of a solution, let alone do anything constructive. At the beginning, I didn’t even contemplate that my training skills might possibly apply across a spectrum of animals.

However once I took myself in hand, employed deep breaths, my brain started working again, and a plan unfolded effortlessly. The panicked hen no longer sensed my own trepidation so she calmed down too which then allowed a greater chance for my plan to work.

The moral of my story is that if we, ourselves, lack self control when dealing with our own pets, how can we expect our dogs to show restraint since they copy everything we do?

by John Hosford

As we move into May, we hope the days are finally warming up, but gardeners must remain vigilant. Beware of cold nights early in the month. While those living near the coast may have seen the last of the frosts, venturing just five or eight miles inland can bring you into contact with late seasonal freezes. Always keep a watchful eye on the forecast and keep frost protection fleece, cloches, or cold frames ready to protect your tender plants.

Watering

Preparation for drier days is essential this month. Install taps in strategic locations, particularly in or adjacent to your greenhouse, cloches, and frames, as well as near hanging baskets, window boxes, and patio containers. For those with numerous containers or recent plantings, an automated watering system with a time clock is a worthwhile investment, especially if you plan to be away for prolonged periods.

To manage resources effectively, conserve and store water in water butts. Mulching beds and borders with bark mulch or well-composted farmyard or stable manure will further conserve moisture and suppress weeds. If you cannot source manure locally, consider ‘Gee-up’, made in Blarney, Co. Cork. When sourcing any manure, ensure it is free from weed seeds or roots.

Vegetables

May is a busy month for both indoor and outdoor sowing. If you have not yet started courgettes, pumpkins, squashes, vegetable marrows, sweet corn, runner beans, or French beans, these may be sown indoors early this month. Sowing seeds individually in 9-12cm biodegradable pots helps cut down on waste and minimises transplanting shock. These can be planted out at the end of the month or in early June once they have been thoroughly hardened-off.

Continue successional sowing of beetroot, cabbage, carrots, salad onions, lettuce, radishes, swedes, and turnips outdoors, sowing thinly in well-prepared soil. Celery can be planted out towards the end of the month, while cauliflower and broccoli should be sown now for a spring 2027 harvest.

Brussels sprouts can be moved into their final cropping quarters now, spaced 90cm apart with 90cm between rows. As they occupy space for a long period, you can optimise the ground by intercropping with quick-maturing crops like lettuce, radishes, or kohl rabi. Protect sprouts against cabbage root fly by placing cabbage collars around the neck of the plants immediately after planting. In autumn, ensure they are supported with robust stakes to prevent wind rock, and use Enviromesh to deter caterpillars and pigeons.

Fruit

To ensure a clean harvest, tuck straw under strawberries to protect the fruits from rotting and to prevent soil splashing onto them. Newly planted fruit trees and bushes require consistent watering during dry spells. Additionally, currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and loganberries will benefit greatly from an application of well-rotted farmyard manure, garden compost, or spent mushroom compost.

Under Cover

Now is the time to plant up hanging baskets and containers, keeping them indoors and frost-free until the end of the month. Gradually acclimatise them to the outdoors as they establish. Bedding plants, geraniums, and fuchsias should also be hardened off in preparation for summer displays.

Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and aubergines are ready for larger pots or grow bags. Opt for the deepest grow bags available, as shallow versions dry out too quickly. Ensure plants are not crowded, as proper spacing reduces the risk of disease, mould, and pests. Cordon tomatoes require regular tying and side-shooting; snap off small shoots with your thumb and forefinger, or use a sharp, disinfected knife for larger ones to prevent the spread of viral diseases.

Glasshouse management is crucial as temperatures rise. Apply shading using a wash or fit roller blinds to the exterior. Alternatively, fine mesh netting can be used on sunny days. Morning watering and ‘damping down’ paths will increase humidity and discourage red spider mites. Weekly feeding with an organic seaweed-based fertiliser is recommended for all indoor and container plants. For a unique touch, plant ‘Tumbling Tom’ tomatoes or cascading herbs in hanging baskets.

Keep a sharp lookout for pests such as whitefly, greenfly, vine weevil, and lily beetles. Lily beetles are easily identified by their bright red colour and should be removed by hand to prevent damage to leaves and flowers. Biological controls for various pests can be sourced from Mr. Middleton in Dublin or Fruit Hill Farm in Bantry.

Lawns

Mow established lawns regularly and apply feed if you have not already done so. Any remaining tasks for sowing new lawns should be completed early this month to allow for establishment before the peak heat of summer.

Hardy Annuals

Sow hardy annuals in informal drifts for a natural look. In one-sided borders, position taller varieties at the back, tapering down to the front; for island beds, place the tallest plants in the centre. Avoid making the soil too rich, as this can encourage foliage at the expense of flowers.

Excellent varieties for May sowing include Eschscholzia (Californian poppy), Limnanthes (Scrambled Eggs), Nigella, Calendula, and Nasturtiums. Echium ‘Blue Bedder’ is particularly attractive to bees, while others like Orlaya, Ammi, and Poppy “Ladybird” provide wonderful texture and colour.

Chelsea Flower Show

A true highlight of the gardening calendar, the Chelsea Flower Show takes place this year from May 19-23 in the grounds of The Royal Hospital, Chelsea. For those unable to attend in person, the BBC provides extensive coverage, offering a wonderful insight into the world-class show gardens and floral displays.

I have driven several electric cars in recent years and only twice have I been able to reach the manufacturer’s claimed range when giving the battery a full charge. It happened with Hyundai’s Ioniq 9 last year and last week the revised Xpeng G6 also lived up to its claimed range of 470km when fully charged.

We have all heard jokes about people putting on weight while waiting for their E.V. to charge. It’s tempting to have a tea or coffee and a fancy cake if you have to stop at a roadside filling station to charge your electric car. But last week I did a few short walks while waiting for my Xpeng to charge at Supervalu in Walkinstown. So instead of putting on weight while waiting to charge, you can also lose weight.

I was very impressed with the Xpeng, which along with BYD and Smart are the Chinese brands currently being imported by the MDL group.

It’s massive car and my daughter, who is my regular travelling companion, kept commenting on how spacious the interior was. She is very colour conscious and was impressed with the lovely touches of light grey on the seats and dash area. A full length sunroof adds to the bright interior feel. Overall the interior has a minimalistic and clean look to it.

Plenty of room in the back seat for three well-built adults and with a flat floor no complaints from the person sitting in the middle. The boot is a decent size at 571 litres, rising to 1,374 litres with the rear seats folded down.

Most of the controls are incorporated into the massive 15.6-inch screen on the dash. From that screen you can find everything you need to know about driving the car, how to open the bonnet, the boot, the electric charge point and the glove box.

I read recently that that in Europe, at least, there are plans to bring back a few old style buttons for air conditioning and radio. That would definitely be a sensible idea as it’s very dangerous for the driver to take his/her eyes off for the road for just a few seconds to find something on that huge screen. I think most of us have trained our bodies to find buttons on the dash without fumbling to find them.

The Xpeng is similar in looks to a few other electric cars currently available, most notably Tesla’s Model Y, some of Kia’s new EV range and the Skoda Enyaq. My test car came in Artic White, which is similar to a shade of white that Tesla use. 

As usual you get two vanity mirror in the front for driver and front seat passenger. But I noticed that in order to see the vanity mirrors you need to fold down a piece of material that covers the mirrors. 

Prices for the RWD Standard Range version that I drove have been held at €42,000, as has the price of the long-range version at €49,440. The range in the latter version is 525km. Naturally like all electric cars, it takes off like a greyhound and the max speed is 202km, if it’s penalty points you are after!

I really enjoyed my time in the Xpeng and it charges really fast, so fast you can only take a short walk.

 I got a lot of people asking me about the name and how is it’s pronounced. We don’t have many words in the English language starting with ‘X’ apart from X-Ray and Xylophone.The name Xpeng reminded me of an old television ad in the eighties promoting a product for cows called Cheno Unction. The manufacturer’s advertising line was: ‘‘It’s a quare name, but great stuff.’’

This is when the garden really comes into its own. After months of rest, it’s up and at’em at every chance we get to be outside. Thanks to a couple of fantastic French helpers our land is looking really good this year despite the front field still being an impenetrable wall of brambles worthy of Sleeping Beauty’s hedge of thorns. The dreadful weather we had at the start of the year meant that we could not get a tractor in to do the work of stripping it and now it is too brimming with nests and small critters to disturb. That job will have to wait until Autumn when everything starts to die back, and everyone has reared their young.

Not to worry…the rest of the garden is looking spiffy. The tunnel is a nursery full of incubating seedlings, sprouting lettuces, broccoli, and spinach, and radishes. The potatoes are in. The rhubarb is ready to pick. The raspberries are cut back and weeded in their beds, and the strawberries are already growing in their bathtubs. The season is looking good. Getting your hands dirty has been proven to be beneficial to both our mental and physical health. In addition, nothing tastes quite as good as a vegetable you have grown yourself. As a new show on Netflix declares: ‘The future is agrarian’. Growing food is wonderful. It’s good for the soul, the belly and the pocket. In these uncertain times it is also good for the future.

Many of us in West Cork are lucky to have a bit of land to grow food on. You don’t need much. It is surprising how productive a small vegetable patch can be. For those who don’t have any land, many communities have allotments which can provide lots of lovely fruit and veg.

Growing your own has always been a “hobby” of a certain group of people, but it wasn’t so long ago that everyone was at it. Even in towns, people grew the basics: potatoes, carrots, cabbage/leeks and lettuces in their back garden. Out in the countryside it was common for a family to grow most of their vegetables, keep chickens and rear a pig, or keep a cow for milking.

It may sound like a charming past-time, but the recent oil crisis should make us sit up and take note. As an island nation dependant on transportation for most of our food, we need to become more self-sufficient.

Ireland imports 80 per cent of its food and that’s a trend that is growing. Food imports jumped from 8.6 per cent to 9.4 per cent of merchandise imports between 2023 and 2024. Many are foods like bananas or avocados, which don’t grow in our climate. Fair enough. We might miss them in a crisis, but we won’t starve for lack of pineapples if we grow fruit and veg that thrive in our climate. We imported 96,000t of bananas in 2024. But we also imported 56,000t of apples. 

That’s crazy. Here’s some more crazy stats: According to the CSO, Ireland imported 104,500t of potatoes in 2024, along with133,500t of prepared potatoes. In addition, Ireland imported 44,700t of onions, 28,800t of carrots/turnips,28,000t of tomatoes and 21,000t of cabbage. All vegetables which grow very well in our climate. And yet all around me are beautiful fields full of…grass. There are a few fields of corn, a field of onions, and of course a strawberry farm. That is not great for food security, now, is it? This year the European Union advised its citizens to stockpile 72 hours of water and food “in case of emergency”. Ireland needs to take a long hard look at our food security. Family vegetable plots, community allotments, and more farmers growing food will help us get through a lot longer than a 72-hour emergency.

Globe artichoke, ‘Cynara scolymus’,  is a classic bitter herb, as well as a delicious food. The leaves are the part most frequently used medicinally for lipid control, of which the key types are triglycerides (fats/oils), phospholipids, and sterols (cholesterol). It is also used for liver-bile support and digestion. The immature flower buds are used as food.

The leaf has long been employed by herbalists as a bitter digestive tonic, particularly in cases of bloating and slow digestion, heavy meals, or low appetite. It increases bile flow, which aids the body in managing lipids (triglycerides, phospholipids and sterols) and may lessen feelings of fullness after rich meals.

Artichoke leaf is then a ‘bitters-and-bile’ herb. It works well for those who have mild digestive sluggishness and feel better after bitter foods, and it helps the liver and gallbladder with their regular fat-handling tasks. The edible buds are also very healthy, as they are low in fat while rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are also exceptionally high in vitamin C and folate; they also supply essential minerals, such as magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. All in all, the globe artichoke is a very useful plant in the garden.

Artichoke is not the ideal herb for someone with gallstones, bile duct obstruction, or active gallbladder problems because it can increase bile flow. It can also cause an allergic reaction. So, if you are allergic to any of the daisy families, you need to be more careful when using this plant. Similar to the majority of bitter herbs, it is advisable to use them sparingly and sensibly, particularly during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The globe artichoke is an eye-catching perennial that prefers a sunny location. It likes soil that retains moisture and drains well. It should not be overcrowded or left in heavy, wet clay. It thrives in rich soil that has been enhanced with compost or well-rotted manure. Because plants develop into big, architectural clumps, space them widely, around 75 to 90 cm apart.

You can purchase new plants in the spring or grow it from seed. It is preferable to start seeds indoors in late winter or early spring, harden them, and then plant them outside once the risk of frost has subsided. Once established, the plant is resilient and can last for several years; older clumps are kept strong by splitting them every four or five years.

Harvest the buds for cooking when they are fully grown but still firmly closed. Smaller side buds may be taken later in the summer after the main bud has been harvested. If you leave some buds they will expand into attractive, thistle-like blooms that attract bees and other pollinators.

The leaf is the part used in herbal remedies. Prepare this tea by pouring boiling water over dried leaves and leaving it to infuse for ten to fifteen minutes. The only problem is that it is very bitter. Unfortunately, it is this bitter quality that contributes to its health benefits. Drink this tea about 30 minutes before a meal to maximise its therapeutic effect.

This plant has a lot to offer in the garden. It has a striking architectural structure, and it lasts many years. Also, many pollinators love it, and it offers both culinary and medicinal benefits.

We spoke in detail last month about the new windows and doors grant, recently launched under the Individual Energy Upgrade Grant. First of all, I need to make a correction to one of the grant rules, which has been clarified by SEAI in the meantime. My understanding was that, in order to be eligible for the window or door grant, all your windows or doors in the house would have to meet the minimum SEAI specification (a U-value of 1.4 W/m2K or lower). This was always the rule for window and door grants under the One Stop Shop Scheme and would normally mean replacing all the windows or doors. I have since been informed by SEAI that they will offer the grants towards a partial window or door replacement, but that it is a one time grant, you can only make the claim once. Obviously you still need to meet the minimum insulation standards we discussed last month, which may be harder to do if only changing a few windows. 

This month we are continuing on the glazing subject, discussing sunrooms. Sunrooms or conservatories are great spaces for capturing heat when the sun comes out and making the most of a site with a good view. These glass-walled retreats are a common architectural feature on both old and new houses across West Cork. However, as we move toward higher insulation standards for retrofits and new builds, the humble sunroom is coming under the microscope. While they feel warm on a sunny April afternoon, they can often be the ‘weakest link’ in a home’s thermal envelope. There are also complications regarding how they are treated in BER assessments.

Firstly, let’s look at efficiency. I’m sure we have all experienced fully glazed sunrooms that get roasting hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. This is simple physics: glazing allows for solar gain. While this ‘free’ heat can be useful, it can quickly lead to overheating, and the heat loss during nights and winter usually outweighs the gains. In terms of heat loss, a wall built to modern standards will be almost 4.5 times better at retaining heat compared to the best triple-glazed window. Finally, the ‘form factor’ of these spaces is often inefficient. They are usually three-sided structures attached to the main house, often with vaulted ceilings. This creates a high proportion of heat-loss area; glazing, walls, floor, and roof, in comparison to the useable floor area.

If you are designing a sunroom from scratch, my advice is to reduce the proportion of glazing. Aim for a solid roof with a few rooflights and no more than 30 per cent glazing on the walls. This provides ample solar gain while minimising heat loss. If you are clever with the design, this shouldn’t restrict how the space captures views or connects to the surroundings. To be fair, most sunrooms on new-build homes already follow these principles; in fact, it would be nearly impossible to meet current building regulations with a fully glazed space that is thermally part of the house.

This leads to my second point: existing sunrooms that are more or less fully glazed. I’m currently sitting in one while writing this article. It’s a slightly overcast April day; about 16 degrees Celsius outside and 28 degrees inside with the door open! We don’t have any heating in this space, and the door into the living room is an external-grade door. We don’t use the room much in the winter; it’s great in spring and autumn, if we have sunshine, but as soon as it gets dark, it’s very cold. In the height of summer, it needs all the doors open to stay cool. Despite this, it is still a useful space, and I’m glad we spent the time and money repairing it when we moved in rather than demolishing it. My advice if you have this type of sunroom is to treat it as a seasonal space: don’t try to heat it, and ensure it is thermally separated from the rest of the house when temperatures drop. You could also consider closing in part of the roof and walls with insulated panels; I have seen some very effective examples of this.

How sunrooms are treated in your BER (Building Energy Rating) roughly follows the principles above:

Separated: If it is thermally separated from the rest of the house (e.g., by an external-grade door), is mainly glazed, and has no fixed heating, it is not counted as part of the house’s internal floor area.

Included: If these criteria aren’t met, for example, if you have a radiator in there, the room is counted as part of the heated envelope. This generally leads to a poorer BER rating because of the high heat loss through the glass.

This classification becomes important when looking at the SEAI window, door and heat pump grants, which all require a certain level of insulation of the home. If your sunroom is classified as part of the house, it is likely to negatively impact your Heat Loss Indicator (HLI). This is a critical metric, as the heat Pump Grant requires an HLI of 2.3 or lower. It is  also one of the routes to grant compliance for windows and doors.

Sunrooms are not necessarily a bad thing; they can be very useful spaces. It is simply important to be aware of their impact on your energy use, BER, and grant eligibility.

Heads up: For those planning a BER soon, from May 24, 2026, the BER scale is being simplified from 15 categories (A1, B2, and so on) to a basic A to G scale. This is part of wider changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) at a European level. We will dive into this in more detail next month.

As always, if you would like to get in touch about anything in this article or your own retrofit project, feel free to reach out: ruairi@retrofurb.ie.

Every year International Dawn Chorus Day celebrates the natural wonder of birdsong and in particular the dawn chorus, a phenomenon that takes place every morning during the breeding season and starts even before the sun rises writes Branch member Nicholas Mitchell. This year it is on Sunday, May 3 and you can tune in to RTÉ Radio 1 that morning, shortly after midnight, or you can enjoy it in your own garden, local park or surrounding countryside.

Avian spring migrants started leaving their over-wintering grounds in Africa many weeks ago and have been arriving at their northern hemisphere breeding grounds, including Ireland, since April. These summer visitors, like Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat, have all added to the chorus of birdsong that began with our resident birds as far back as February. This means that, by the time we get to May, the volume and variety of the chorus has increased manyfold, especially at dawn and dusk.

That is why the West Cork Branch of BirdWatch Ireland hosts a dawn chorus event most years during May. However, every so often, we run a Dusk Chorus event instead. And this is one of those years. The birdsong at this time of day does not have quite the same impact that it does at dawn, in that the chorus does not build to a crescendo. However, it is not without its benefits. There is the obvious bonus of not having to set an alarm clock at some unearthly hour. Another is that the birdsong is more ‘spread out’ and less of a wall of noise. This allows different birdsong of each bird to be separated and highlighted more easily for the audience. Also this time of day makes it more appealing as a family event.

The event will start at 8pm in the Long Strand car park, Castlefreke. We will gather there for a while and then probably walk up into the woods behind. It will last an hour or so and, as with most Branch outings, it is free of charge and open to everyone. Any walking will be on good paths and appropriate footwear is recommended, as is warm clothing and, most importantly, midge repellent!

BirdWatch Ireland West Cork Branch News

Upcoming outings being held by the Branch are:
Sunday May 24: Dusk Chorus at Long Strand, Castlefreke
Sunday May 31: Cape Clear Island

Visit our website www.birdwatchirelandwestcork.ie for more information about these events. For more information about the Branch, contact Fiona O’Neill at secretary@birdwatchirelandwestcork.ie.

Facebook @BirdWatchIrelandWestCork

Instagram @birdwatch_ireland_west_cork

We spoke back in February about the significant changes to several SEAI grant schemes. As of February 3, 2026, heat pump grants have increased to a maximum of €12,500. This total now includes a new €4,000 Renewable Heat Bonus (essentially a boiler scrappage scheme) and a €2,000 Central Heating Upgrade grant, alongside existing supports. Crucially, this level of funding is now available through Better Energy Homes individual grants – which previously capped out at €6,500 – as well as the One Stop Shop, (OSS) route. Grants for attic and cavity wall insulation have also seen an uplift.

At the start of March, the highly-anticipated Windows and Doors grant launched under the individual measure scheme, previously only available under the OSS grant route. This rollout included higher supports for households receiving certain Social Protection payments and new attic insulation grants specifically for first-time buyers. Additionally, homeowners who previously received a grant for cavity or internal wall insulation may now qualify for a second wall insulation grant.

From what we’ve seen through our own business, the window and door grant is causing the most confusion – which isn’t surprising. The rules and application process are more complex than most other measures, and the full details aren’t always clear on the SEAI website. This month, I want to dive deeper into the intricate details of these new grants.

First, let’s cover the straightforward requirements:

Property Age: Your house must have been built and occupied before 2011.

Performance: New windows and doors must meet a U-value of 1.4 or better (a U-value measures heat loss; the lower the number, the better the insulation).

Contractor: You must use an SEAI-registered contractor.

Timeline: You must apply online via the SEAI Better Energy Homes portal before you start the work.

Payment: You have the work completed, pay the contractor, have a BER assessment completed afterward and then claim the grant back.

The complexity lies in the ‘fabric-first’ criteria specific to windows and doors. To qualify, your home must meet one of the following:

Heat Loss Indicator (HLI): You must achieve an HLI of 2.3 or lower after the windows/doors are fitted. This is the same metric used to determine heat pump readiness.

Advisory Report: Alternatively, your BER Advisory Report must show your walls and roof as being rated ‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’.

Confirming eligibility is tricky and depends on the age of your home and your current BER status.

If you have a BER (Post-July 2021): You likely have the new-format Advisory Report. You can check this immediately to see your current HLI and wall/roof ratings.

If you have a BER (Pre-July 2021): These older reports don’t display this level of detail. The full data would need to be requested from the SEAI for review, which usually requires professional assistance.

If you don’t have a BER: You will likely need a pre-BER assessment to check eligibility and determine if upgrades to your attic or walls are required first.

Note on 2005-2010 Homes: Houses in this age bracket often meet the ‘Good’ wall and roof definitions by default due to the building regulations of that time.

In all cases, a final BER is required to claim the grant. If you are relying on an existing BER to check compliance, it makes sense to use the same assessor for the final BER to ensure consistency. If starting from scratch, most assessors, including ourselves, now offer a combined ‘pre-and-post’ BER service for these grants.

Finally, keep in mind that this is a ‘whole house’ upgrade. You cannot get the grant to replace just a few windows while leaving poor-performing ones behind. If you’ve upgraded some windows recently (within the last 10 years), they likely already meet the 1.4 U-value and can be retained, provided you can supply a Declaration of Performance from the original supplier.

As always, if you would like to get in touch about anything in this article or your own retrofit project, feel free to reach out: ruairi@retrofurb.ie.

Gardening By John Hosford

As April unfolds, the days are lengthening, and with the clocks having shifted forward to Summer Time at the end of March, we now enjoy those extra evening hours. This extended daylight offers a wonderful opportunity to catch up on various gardening tasks. There’s plenty to do this month, from seed sowing both indoors and outdoors to weeding, planting, and pruning.

Cut back evergreen shrubs

Start by cutting back evergreen shrubs. It’s an ideal time to prune Mediterranean shrubs such as lavender and rosemary; make sure to cut them back to healthy buds. Avoid trimming into old, lifeless wood, as this may not reshoot. Plants like Fatsia, Hebe, and Escallonia can benefit from a light trim, while Ceanothus, Choisya, Daphne, Mahonia, Rhododendrons, Camellias, Azaleas, and Sarcococca should be pruned after flowering, ideally in May or June.

Deadhead daffodils 

Deadheading daffodils and other spring bulbs is essential after the flowers have faded. This practice diverts energy back into the bulbs, helping them bulk up for an even better display next year. If you have water lilies that have outgrown their space, now is the time to divide them. Carefully remove the plant and use a sharp knife to cut the root ball into sections, ensuring each has at least one shoot and some roots. Replant these sections into pond baskets filled with aquatic compost.

Feed trees, shrubs and perennials

Feeding trees, shrubs, and perennials is also crucial this month. Specialised feeds are available for lime-hating plants like Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias, Skimmias, Sarcococca, and Kalmia, which will thrive with an application. Roses should also receive their monthly feed with a special rose fertiliser, followed by another application in May and June. When applying fertiliser, spread it out at a distance proportional to the height of the tree or bush, as roots typically expand to a distance equal to the plant’s height.

Vegetable garden

In the vegetable garden, sow peas in a sunny, sheltered position, planting them in a flat-bottomed trench about 5cm deep and 15cm wide, spacing them 7.5 cm apart in a single row or in two rows 30 cm apart. Remember to support them with robust wire netting. For potatoes, plant out second early and maincrop varieties, ensuring second earlies are set 30cm apart in rows 30cm apart and maincrops 37 cm apart. Earthing up first earlies protects the stems from cold weather and encourages more tubers to form. This process can be repeated as later varieties emerge above ground. Protect young crops with a double layer of extra-strength frost protection fleece, cloches, or cold frames.

You can also sow carrots and cabbages in prepared beds, covering them with fleece or insect-proof mesh to protect against carrot fly and cabbage white butterflies, whose larvae can devastate brassicas like cabbages, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. Additionally, sow courgettes, vegetable marrows, pumpkins, squashes, cucumbers, melons, sweet corn, runner beans, and both bush and climbing French beans in 10 cm pots in a heated, frost-free area indoors. You can plant one seed per pot or two and select the strongest seedling once they emerge. These can be moved outdoors at the end of May or early June after hardening off.

Tomato plants can be planted in their fruiting quarters this month, whether in greenhouse soil, grow-bags, or large pots. Trailing varieties are perfect for hanging baskets or window boxes but must be kept frost-free.

Fruit garden

In the fruit garden, mulch raspberry canes with organic matter such as well-composted garden compost or stable manure. If those aren’t available, the excellent Gee-up from Blarney, Co. Cork, is a great substitute and widely available in garden outlets throughout Cork County. Indoors, geraniums, pelargoniums, fuchsias, and streptocarpus should now start receiving regular weekly liquid feeds. A seaweed-based fertiliser works well, and these plants should be fed weekly until early October to encourage healthy growth and blooming.

Citrus trees should begin receiving special citrus feed. Once the frost has passed at the end of May, they can be moved outdoors, provided they have drainage holes. Houseplants will require more frequent watering, and it’s best to stand them in a sink while watering, allowing them to drain without standing in water for more than 30 minutes.

April flowers

April also brings a delightful array of flowering plants. Bergenia showcases white, pink, and red flowers on glossy, leathery leaves and serves as excellent ground cover for early colour. Brunnera, with its green and variegated varieties, offers dainty blue flowers. The profuse blooms of crab apples are followed by attractive autumn fruit, while dogs tooth violets present low, clump-forming bulbs for shade. Dicentra spectabilis, or bleeding heart, boasts tall, elegant foliage.

Exochorda produces profuse white flowers, while Fritillaria persica captivates with purple spires of bloom, best planted as bulbs in autumn. Flowering cherries offer a stunning display of pink and white flowers, and some varieties feature attractive polished bark. Pulmonaria provides early colour in low-growing shades of blue, red, and white. Many rhododendron varieties will be in bloom this month, thriving in lime-free, ericaceous compost and benefiting from annual feed with a specific Rhododendron/Azalea fertiliser. Tulips will also be in flower, presenting a variety of colours, so remember to protect them from slugs.

For bedding and patio plants, containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets can now be planted and established in a greenhouse. Use fresh compost and include a slow-release fertiliser. Ensure window boxes have drainage outlets before planting.

Lastly, keep your lawn in check by mowing regularly, starting with the blades at their highest setting. Gradually lower the setting by the end of the month. Feed established lawns, aerate to rake out thatch, and give your lawn a spring feed. If you’re establishing new lawns, prepare the ground properly.

April is a vibrant month in the garden, full of opportunities to nurture and enjoy your plants. 

Happy gardening!