Heroes make a welcome return

Woodie’s Heroes is back for 2026, raising funds for four children’s charities until 9 August. Now in its 12th year, the campaign supports Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland, ISPCC’s Childline, Down Syndrome Ireland and Cancer Fund for Children.

Customers can donate at the till in Woodie’s stores nationwide or online, with 100% of donations divided equally between the charities. See woodies.ie

Woodie’s Heroes ambassador Ciarán Dawson, pictured at the launch of Woodie’s Heroes 2026 with his parents, Jennifer and Justin, and sister Roisin, is representing Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland.

Petals in the post

With gardens bursting into bloom, now is the perfect time to send flowers... through the letterbox. Visual artist Peggie McKeon from Co Kildare captures the beauty of the season with these one-off, hand-painted watercolour cards inspired by the ever-changing colours of her balcony garden. Perfect for sending a simple hello, marking a special occasion or letting someone know you’re thinking of them. Peggie says: “I come from a long line of letter writers and believe that a handmade card is a heartfelt expression of care, kindness and grá.” Available from Instagram @thepottingshedkildare the hand-painted watercolour cards are €9.50 each (pictured below), or drop into The Potting Shed in Kilcullen, Co Kildare for a browse around. Open to the public Friday and Saturday 10am-2pm.

Cook with Neven winners

Neven Maguire Cookery CompetCongratulations to the winners of our recent Father’s Day competition with Dunnes Stores Simply Better, who enjoyed a day of cooking with Neven Maguire on 17 July at Dunnes HQ in Dublin. Well done to Martin Casey, Co Kerry, Bríd O’Gorman Crowe, Co Clare, Vivienne Murphy, Co Dublin, Yvonne McGrath, Co Leitrim and Niamh Wiseman, Co Wicklow, and their guests pictured with Irish County Living editor Ciara Leahy and Neven Maguire. \ Philip Doyle

Berry Irish tradition

Glendalough Distillery is celebrating Fraughan Sunday on 26 July, shining a light on the old Irish tradition of picking wild fraughans, or wild blueberries, to mark the beginning of Lúnasa. The distillery’s full-time forager, Geraldine Kavanagh (pictured below), heads into the Wicklow Mountains to hand-pick fraughans for use in Glendalough Distillery’s Summer Gin, where their more complex flavour sets them apart from store-bought berries. Beyond gin, one of the former uses of fraughans was as a dye for wool, linen, and other natural fibres used to make clothing and blankets in Ireland. See glendaloughdistillery.com

Geraldine Kavanagh.

Sweet success

Alice Kelly, known online as @FromScratchBaker, has released her debut cookbook From Scratch. Published by Nine Bean Rows, it features 80 foolproof recipes, from easy tray-bakes to show-stopping cakes, with guidance for first-time bakers and more confident home cooks. The 22-year-old classically trained baker has built a combined social media following of 3.9m. The book costs €35 and is available from all major book shops.

From Scratch by Alice Kelly.

Poetry Corner

Harvest by Kathleen Gallagher, Cartron Point, Co Sligo

The field I’m in

Is a field of gold

With my father and mother

Before they too, were old.

Home from school

Work to be done

Stooks to be built

Before the setting sun.

Father ahead

Swinging the scythe

Mother and I

Working side by side.

She takes out the sheaves

Hands them to me

I tie them of themselves

Our meitheal of three.

Pick up a few wisps

Of the golden crop

Binding and knotting

Not daring to stop.

Silence you’d think

But really not quite

The hum of us working

Into fading light.

The crows and the birds

Invade the cleared patch

Just as they will when

This straw is in thatch.

Margaret arrives

Bringing the tea

Picks a nice shady spot

For this party of three.

We welcome the break

As we sit on our coats

From here we review

Our golden fields of oats.

Bottles of tea

Kept warm in a sock

Door-step sandwiches

Of boiled ham-hock.

Oh, that tea tastes good

And the sandwiches too,

‘Don’t get too comfortable-

There’s more harvest to do!’

So long ago - those times

Now long gone

Archived in memory

Or in the verse of a song.

Country Vibes – we want to hear from you

Do you have a book, event, product, craft, business, or local initiative that celebrates rural life in Ireland? The Country Vibes pages in Irish Country Living are always looking for unique finds and community happenings to share with our readers. Whether it’s a new book release, an upcoming festival, a handmade product, a farm diversification project or a special event in your area, we’d love to hear about it. Send us details, photos, and contact information for consideration. We can’t guarantee coverage, but we’re always keen to discover the people, places, and ideas bringing vibrancy to rural Ireland. Please send to Country Vibes icl@farmersjournal.ie