Staff members from Glanbia Ireland gave up their time to volunteer with DIY SOS

As official plant partners of RTE’s DIY SOS, Glanbia CountryLife put the call out for volunteers to come on board and help the DIY team in their efforts to transform a home and garden for a family in need of some extra help. A large number of staff members from across Glanbia Ireland rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty, most recently for the Aylward family in New Ross.

Left to right: Celine Ashmore, Glanbia Customer Services Kilkenny and her twin Michelle Doorley

For Celine Ashmore in Glanbia Customer Services, getting involved as a volunteer was a no-brainer. “The minute the email came out, I wanted to do it straight away. I volunteer with the Special Olympics which wasn’t on this year, so it was great to get involved with another worthwhile project. People might think you’re great to volunteer but I think the volunteers get so much back, possibly more than the recipients.” An avid gardener, Celine found the work very enjoyable. “It was like a holiday to me! We were working outside in the sunshine all day and although it wasn’t easy, I think we all got a lot out of it. I met lots of new people who all had the same goal – to do something good for somebody else with no expectation of a reward or of looking for something back. Being involved gave me a huge sense of achievement and I’ve already signed up for the next project!”

Ulrik Nyberg, Market Insights Manager at Glanbia Ireland, drove from Dublin to New Ross to lend a hand on the last day of the project. It was, he says, an incredible experience. “The whole spirit of coming together and giving away everything from plants to flatscreen TV’s was just amazing.” Ulrik helped with the landscaping element of the project, ensuring the garden looked its best for the cameras. “My body was broken after the day, I used muscles I forgot I had! I met lots of new people that day too; I work with all three GI business units, but I don’t do a lot with our agri side. My day on the New Ross project changed that.” It’s an experience that he has since recommended to colleagues. “I would absolutely do it again. I think it’s great that Glanbia Ireland has gotten involved with such an important, worthwhile show.”

Horticulturist Eimear Delahunty also volunteered on the New Ross project. “I loved every minute of it. When we got to see the family’s reaction at the end of the week, we knew all the hard work was worth it.” Johnny, Lynn and their two young boys, Mikey and Daire, went from living in a housing estate with no real garden to living in a country house with a huge garden. “One of the children thanked me for putting in a goalpost in the garden. He had always wanted one but couldn’t have one in the old garden. That made a big difference to me, realising that our work was going to make a massive difference to this family’s life.” Soaring temperatures made for tough working conditions, but the sense of achievement felt by everyone on the project more than made up for the long hot days. “As a company, we’re really lucky to be involved in something like this. It’s also great to get the message out about the garden centres. We have excellent nurseries, without which we wouldn’t have been able to supply the plants, so getting the message out there that we have the expertise and the products was great.” Gardening is Eimear’s passion, another reason why she was keen to get involved in the show. “At 18 months old, I was digging the spuds out of the garden with my dad. To see a garden come from absolutely nothing was amazing. The first day on the project, all I could see was diggers and muck. Thanks to all our hard work, by the Thursday we had a fully landscaped garden.”

Left to right: Eimear Delahunty, Horticulturalist, Campile; Peter Diysos; Noel Leacy, Head Horticulturalist, New Ross; Paul McGrath, Agri lead, New Ross

Agri Lead Paul McGrath had a personal reason for getting involved in the New Ross project for DIY: SOS. “Johnny is my partner’s uncle so for me, volunteering meant something extra. I loved the whole process, it was great craic and I’ve made friends for life.” Thanks to a farming background, the work came easy enough to Paul. “I actually got to learn some new skills, so it was very beneficial from that aspect too. Myself and the volunteers got stuck in and used our own initiative to get the job over the line. Peter Donegan said that it was the first site where he didn’t have to follow people around; he knew we were bringing our own skills and were capable of working on our own.”

The project also gave Paul the opportunity to meet personnel from other branches, something that hadn’t happened for over a year and a half. “With Covid restrictions, we haven’t really been able to meet face to face. I also met people that I’ve been talking to on the phone for 20 years! It was great to be able to put faces to names.” Glanbia Ireland’s involvement in the show is bringing communities together, says Paul. “It was a team effort and such a worthwhile project to be part of. When we all go back and watch the programme, we’ll be able to point out who put those flowers there or who did the pots. I’m delighted I did it and am definitely up for doing another one.”

The date for the next DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland has been postponed until October 14th – 22nd. Glanbia CountryLife is still looking for GI employees to join an army of volunteers helping with garden and home renovations in this Santry renovation. If you would like to volunteer email: GIPeopleServices@glanbia.ie