Student life – John Mulhern

Are you considering a qualification in horticulture but unsure what student life will be like? We asked John Mulhern, Principal of the National Botanic Gardens to speak to current students to find out

Zack Meehan and Bartek Wojcik are among 18 students in the first of three years leading to a BSc qualification in horticulture. The program is run in conjunction with Waterford Institute of Technology and Teagasc National Botanic Gardens and is based between the Gardens and Teagasc Ashtown. Successful graduates of the programme go on to pursue careers in the horticulture sector, from landscaping to nursery to turfgrass to food production.

To help readers gain a little more insight into what it’s like being a contemporary horticulture student I met up with Zack and Bartek to get the inside track.

ZACK MEEHAN
YEAR 1, BSC LEVEL 7 IN HORTICULTURE

How is your course going?
My course is going well and I have learnt a good bit since starting the course. Once a week I take part in work experience in Teagasc Ashtown. This also involves filling out a diary to go along with the experience. Our course is divided between the National Botanic Gardens and Teagasc Ashtown.

What is the social side of horticulture like in the National Botanic Gardens?
Apart from the fact that we have our own nights out that might involve table quiz nights etc this year the college is organising a big hort trip to Amsterdam. Up to 70 students and staff are going for three days, which should be great fun visiting all the beautiful gardens and sights that this city has to offer. Students from across the college are attending so it’s a great social event in our calendar.

How many subjects are you undertaking this year?
I am currently doing six subjects this semester. These subjects include plant knowledge, plant propagation, hort mechanisation, hort building construction, hort skills training and chemistry for land scientists.

Exams are completed at the end of each semester and you move onto new subjects in the next semester. Each semester is 12 weeks of teaching so the time is very short.

What is your favourite of these subjects?
I would have to say hort building construction.

What would you say are the main points you are learning in horticulture?
I find that the course is giving me a horticultural knowledge which will help me to improve my skills and give me the tools to help build and progress my family business.

What is your background in horticulture?
My background in horticulture is linked to previous generations being involved in horticulture. My great-great-grandfather had a nursery in Kimmage called Irish Nurseries. My grandfather would have worked with the Queen on her gardens and at present, I work alongside my father in his tree surgery business when not at college.

If you were to recommend the course what would you say?
The Level 7 course is full on but you learn so much from it.

Did you get any career guidance on horticultural courses when you were at school?
I got some guidance from my career guidance teacher at St Wilson’s School, Mullingar. However, knowing that I wanted to work in horticulture as part of my family business gave me a direction to follow.

Zack Meehan and Bartek Wojcik pictured at the student garden building project which is under construction at the Teagasc campus in Ashtown, Dublin 15.
Zack Meehan and Bartek Wojcik pictured at the student garden building project which is under construction at the Teagasc campus in Ashtown, Dublin 15.

BARTEK WOJCIK
YEAR 1, LEVEL 7 DEGREE IN HORTICULTURE

Why are you doing the course?
I was looking to do a course to help me gain knowledge on plants. I saw that this course was in the National Botanic Gardens where you are surrounded by plants all the time. This would give me a good knowledge base which will help me to work in the field of landscape architecture. When this course is finished I plan to go to UCD or to stick with landscape design within this course.

What draws you to becoming a landscape designer?
I like to work outdoors where I get to work on developing and maintaining gardens. I feel that this type of work is very rewarding when you get to see the outcome of developing a new garden.


Today you are on section, which is every Wednesday. What skills or task do you feel are particularly good at?
We work on a broad range of skills and tasks from planting trees to working and taking care of the machinery. When I go into my second year of work placement I will have a head start because I will know how the machines work. Therefore I won’t need that much assistance and perhaps a company will take me on.

If you were to sell this course to a young person coming in, what would you say the benefits are?
I would say it’s full on the course but there is a lot you will take in even in the first semester. I have no background in horticulture and have learned a lot.

Where did you find an interest in doing horticulture?
I became interested in horticulture when I was in school at St Declan’s College, Cabra.

Was there an interest in the school in horticulture?
The school has a small garden which is maintained. Our principal actually told me that the National Botanic Gardens did courses in horticulture. After looking into I put it on my CAO application straight away.

Would you like to speak to students, tutors and potential employers directly?
Our next college careers event is on March 7th in the Teagasc education building in the National Botanic Gardens. Up to 20 of the top horticultural companies in Ireland who are actively recruiting will be there. It’s a great opportunity for current and intending students to meet with potential employers and discuss job opportunities and what skill sets are required within the sector. ✽
JOHN MULHERNJOHN MULHERN has worked with Teagasc for more than 23 years, primarily in an educational capacity. He is the current principal of the College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin.

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