Harold Lawlor, Durrow, Laois who placed 2nd in the Bridge House All Ireland Championship for collection of vegetables at the Tullamore Show. Picture: Jeff Harvey

FELLOWSHIP AWARD: On Sunday August 11th 2019 one of the greatest honours awarded to any person will be presented to Harold Lawlor, Floraville, Mill Road, Durrow, Co. Laois. It is the National Vegetable Society Fellowship award for services rendered to the Society. This is an award presented to somebody who has over a long period being an excellent member, an excellent grower, an excellent exhibitor and a person who is willing to share his expertise with everyone.
Harold was chosen to receive this award for his over eighty years of growing vegetables and flowers. The award will be presented to Harold at the Tullamore show on August 11th after the judging in the Horticultural tent is finished. It will be presented by the president of the National Vegetable Society of Great Brittan and Ireland by Mr Medwyn Williams. Medwyn has being judge at Tullamore show for many years and has become a good friend of Harold and the Lawlor Family. In a birthday Card sent to Harold by Medwyn and his wife Gwenda, I quote Medwyn “I am looking forward so much to meeting up once again. On this occasion I will be very proud indeed to be awarding you the National Vegetable Society Fellowship Award for services rendered to the Society.
To me though, this award goes much further than that for a lifetime’s dedication to horticulture in all its aspects. You have been a great Ambassador for All Ireland as well and held in high esteem by so many people” This is a wonderful day for Harold and all the Lawlor Family. This we believe is the first Fellowship Award to be given to a person from Laois and possibly Ireland. Harold is one of five people to get this award at the Show.