Dundalk Tennis Club to host international competition this August

Dundalk Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club will host an international tennis competition at the start of August.

The International Tennis Federation has announced the Ramparts venue as a host of one of its prestigious world ranking junior tennis competitions, which will take place from August 1^st to 7^th.

Some of the world’s leading junior tennis players will travel to the nine court facility for the competition and spectators will be welcome with many current stars of the game having started out in ITF events.

Further details of the event can be obtained from the club on 042-9335327.

Meanwhile, it has also been revealed that award winning landscape designer Paul Martin will assist the club in the redesign of the garden area to the rear of the club.

A new garden and viewing area will be created to the rear of the courts by early summer, with the courts also set to be refurbished and the club house insulated, painted and decorated with the €120,000 grant received from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Martin claims gold at Hampton Court flower show in London

Vestra Wealth’s Vista, which scooped a gold medal for designer Paul Martin

Paul Martin

Dundalk garden designer Paul Martin has won a gold medal in the Show Garden category at the prestigious Hampton Court Flower Show in London.

Vestra Wealth’s Vista is a smart, modern garden for a contemporary home.

Various levels and layers of planting and hard landscaping surround a dining terrace with a cantilevered cedar table.

Gabions are surrounded by copper and packed with split timber, which helps to encourage wildlife.

Clipped box lawns are used as alternatives to grass, with one of the lawns supporting a cedar water channel that cascades into a copper pool beneath.

The planting has large drifts of verbena, nepeta and lavender, with a colour palette of purples and blues to create a cool atmosphere on a hot summer’s evening.

Paul has previously won gold medals at the likes of Bloom in the Park and and was a silver medallist at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Rock Celtic declared MDL champions

Blackrock side Rock Celtic have been confirmed as the Nivea for Men Premier Division Champions for the Season 2012-2013 after a long drawn out battle with Duleek AFC.

Duleek played Rock Celtic on Sunday April 28th at the Tollstone and won the match 1-0 but Rock Celtic appealed the result as it appeared Duleek had played suspended player Paul Martin in that game.

The Meath & District League found that Duleek had used an illegal player and awarded the three match points to Rock Celtic.

Duleek then appealed the decision to the Leinster Football Association and subsequently the FAI and both committees upheld the MDL’s decision.

Duleek waved their right to further their appeal to Arbitration which now leaves the League title officially with Rock Celtic and Woodview Celtic now finish runners-up.

Paul scoops gold for his garden at Bloom 2013

A 3D image of Paul’s garden

Bloom 2013 got underway today in the Phoenix Park and local gardener Paul Martin has already picked up a gold medal for his large concept garden ‘The Kerry Group/Concern 1,000 Days Garden’ in association with Concern.

Paul has delivered a dramatic Zambian landscape, growing Irish and African foods, which tells the engaging story of 1,000 Days and underpins the importance of kitchen gardens in feeding women – the world’s frontline hunger champions – and children.

Local rugby star Rob Kearney was amongst a number of people who helped Paul prepare the garden for the opening event, which took place earlier today.

The Bloom 2013 event runs until Monday June 3^rd and will also feature Danucci-Ferdia Chocolates from Ardee, who will be displaying their products at the Love Irish Food marquee.