GLAS 2019: A fervent success
GLAS 2019 successfully introduced new features, drove attendance, and brought together the entire spectrum of the horticulture trade under one roof.
Print1 August 2019
The biggest horticultural trade event on the Irish calendar has already come and gone: the Garden Landscape and Amenity Sportsturf (GLAS) trade show brought together the very best of the horticulture industry under one roof.
GLAS has become synonymous with the trade as the place to do business: network with important stakeholders, and drive new business.
In an effort to constantly evolve, GLAS 2019 saw the very welcome addition of students at the show, forming part of The Careers Hub. The Carrers Hub was an excellent opportunity for two key reasons: it introduced students to all facets of the horticultural trade under one roof; and it also provided for the trade to meet the up-and-coming talent that is currently being developed across Ireland’s institutions, colleges, and universities.
Some of the students joined John Mulhern, principal of the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture on stage at the Teagasc sponsored Learning Theatre 2, at 12pm, to discuss education pathways and continuing professional development.
Mulhern and the students weren’t the only speakers however as both the Bord Bia sponsored Learning Theatre 1 and Teagasc Learning Theatre 2 collectively hosted 17 presentations by industry leaders from across the entire professional horticulture spectrum; covering everything from soil science to sustainable packaging solutions.
If you missed out on attending some of the Learning Theatre presentations, a number of them are available on the GLAS website.
Exhibitors and attendees
GLAS wouldn’t be GLAS without the exhibitors and attendees. Visitor attendance was higher than 2018 which showcases the dedication of the trade despite the challenges that Brexit has brought with it. With queues out the door and very busy aisles, there was no better proof that both GLAS and its attendees are there to do business.
Every year at GLAS the quality of exhibitor stands seems to get better and better. 17 nurseries were in attendance and the quality of their stands was astonishing. In particular, congratulations to Doran’s Nurseries for winning Best in Show Horticulture and Lemonfield Pottery for winning Best in Show Trade Supplier.
Doran’s Nurseries and Lemonfield Pottery weren’t the only winners on the day however as the Delphinium “Highlander Flamenco”, by Schram Plants, was declared the winner of the Best New Plant Award; and JF McKenna as winner of the Best New Product Award for the Modiform recyclable Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers. You can read about their thoughts on winning and GLAS here.
The Best New Plant New Product Awards bring great excitement to GLAS as worthy entrants are assessed by an expert panel of judges who will declare the winner on the day of the event at the Learning Theatre.
The awards are just another way that GLAS recognises the continued devotion to improvement and innovation by the industry.
The above are just some of the reasons that make GLAS a continued success and important date on the trade calendar. Others include the Shop Equipment Ltd Retail Merchandising Showcase, showcasing the latest retail merchandising trends; Bord Bia’s Thinking House which offers unrivalled support and industry insight to members of the trade; the Irish Institute of Sports Surfaces Sportsturf Village and Machinery Park which hosted 20 leading sportsturf exhibitors on the day; and the brand new for GLAS 2019 Landscape Show, supported by the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI), the Irish Landscape Institute (ILI), and the Garden and Landscape Designers Association (GLDA) who were on hand to meet new and existing members.
2020
As GLAS 2019 ends, so begins the planning for GLAS 2020, which has already been set as taking place on July 16, 2020 – be sure to mark your calendars. Until then, enjoy some photographic highlights from GLAS 2019 – all photos by Joe Keogh.
A display from GLAS 2019. Photo: Joe Keogh
GLAS 2019
GLAS 2019.
PIC: Joe Keogh
GLAS 2019. PIC: Joe Keogh
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