Portmarnock – Peter Donegan Garden Design & Landscaping

10 Green Questions With Comedian Paddy Courtney

I met with Paddy Courtney in Portmarnock recently. Anything for the great outdoors is always my attitude and when I realised I could ask Paddy my 10 new green questions and also have a giggle at the same time I was all for it.

The other reality is that I really like what 7up are doing in the context of the great outdoors. Makes me want to make my own list…. either or you have to admit it’s encouraging in the context of get outside and have a laugh😉 Here’s the deal…

Basically 7Up Free have gotten Paddy Courtney, to head out on a Roadtrip to uncover 7 things you have to do before the summer is out; it’s like a Bucket List for a summer in Ireland. Paddy’s going to be trying out everything from wakeboarding to surfing, from horse riding to abseiling, if it’s fun, he’s trying it.

They are also running competitions on the site over the next few weeks to win all sorts of prizes including a deluxe BBQ with a performance by Paddy in your house, Polaroid Pogos and cocktail shakers. All you have to do is go onto the 7up website and submit your story. They are also on Facebook.

the farmers market, portmarnock

On Sunday[17th May ’09] I took a trip out to my folks home town. I had heard about this new one… but I was unsure. I have this image in my head that there’s a lady who goes out on a Friday, takes a few turnips from the garden, pops ’em into a tweed satchel and pedals from Galway to sell her wares….I jest! But you get the image.. and as a result I’ve been disappointed sometimes for what actually was being sold. It was a market. But not a farmers market entirely. The case in Portmarnock was a lot more to my liking. It’s sill only 6 weeks old – but I liked it. People were happy! The rain was pouring on this particular day, but I really enjoyed it….

What do you do if you wanna give it a go….?
I met André Jenkinson. I had met him before. He runs the one in Portmarnock. He tells me it costs each stall holder €50 per day. He supplies the gazebo. You supply your tables and the rest… One thing to note is a one off insurance that must be held before you start. He says it costs about €250 for the year… but once again a chat with the man is probably best first.

What was Portmarnock like?
I was really impressed. It was lashing out of the heavens [on and off] but it was good. There are some people I must say hello to that I met and who I liked for varying reasons… but mainly their ethos, their products and well, for being nice people.

So hello to Margaret Murphy who had a great selection of plants ; hi to Dan McEvoy who had the flower and herb stall – these were all grown by his family and also to Jenny and ‘the man’ who trades as MY CHI – I love your crépes and I love that there is not one additive in your *real* homemade foods. It was delicious by the way.

There is also a guy there who does really *real* coffee. An absolute must. The cakes were adorable, the bread magnificient and the list goes on…. what can you do… pop on down, take a gander, say hello, let me know what you think…. thinking about doing your own – pop on down and have a natter – you’ll love it.