Committee for 2024
President: Bernadette Marks
Vice President: Mary Watson
Chairperson/Secretary: John Harford
Vice Chairperson: Michael Connolly
Treasurer: Pat Thornton
Madaleine Harford 1959 – 2024
Madaleine Harford passed away on 13th February 2024 following a year-long battle with Brain Cancer. She was our Society Secretary & Show Manager for over 40 years and was passionate about Horticulture & Exhibiting. She was also the main organiser & Show Manager of the Flavours of Fingal Gardening & Horticultural Show since its inauguration in 2018.
Madaleine started exhibiting as a teenager at St. Brigid’s Horticultural Society Show in St Canices School, Finglas West and exhibited in the Handcrafts Section where she won the “Best in Show” award on many occasions, pictured here with the Burke Brothers Cup in 1974. While Handcrafts were her first interest when she joined Fingal Horticultural Society back in the 1980’s, in recent years she was renowned as an administrator and for her expertise in Roses, Pot Plants & Cut Flowers.
She was an enthusiastic organiser and always encouraged the younger exhibitors believing that they are the exhibitors of the future. She was very much admired & respected by her peers, and we are grateful for her enthusiasm & energy, RIP Madaleine.
Mary Lowndes 1937 – 2018
We were all saddened by the loss of our Chairperson Mary Lowndes on 5th February 2018. Mary was a lifetime member of the Fingal Horticultural Society and along with her late Husband Joe, made a valued contribution to our Committee and Society over many years. She had outstanding exhibits in many sections, not least the baking, for which she regularly won trophies in Swords and other North Dublin Shows. She will be dearly missed by us all. May she rest in peace.
Margaret Thorpe 1919 – 2012
We were all saddened when we lost our dear friend and President of our Society, Margaret Thorpe. Margaret served as President of the Society for 18 years, and her contribution over her lifetime membership was invaluable to us all. Her popularity extended far beyond Swords, as she warmly welcomed so many of our neighbouring Societies to our Annual Show every year. She will be sadly missed by us all, but will be remembered with great fondness. May she rest in peace.
