The feting season

It's not all about shopping malls and shopping centres in Dublin South. The election this year coincides with the garden fete season. Hundreds of people descent on far flung school grounds to muddle through piles of bric a brac, try their hands at winning a goldfish, or purchase some wonderful home-baked pastries. Fetes are ideal stomping grounds for candidates, as we learned on our whistle stop tour on Saturday last. Having nearly gotten Alex killed trying to find a parking space on Whitechurch road (a word of thanks to a cool headed steward and an efficient garda) I finally deposited the candidate safely at the gates of Whitechurch N.S. Having earlier eaten a hearty lunch at the Kilternan fete, the candidate was in fine form and cut a dash as he moved among the throngs of people attending the event. A chat with the organising committee, a cup of tea with Rev. Horace, the purchase of a pleasing outdoor plant, and then back on the road (thankfully a different driver!) and on the way to the next pitstop. Garden fetes are most definitely not just a throwback to a bygone day. They are living proof that our communities survive and thrive even in the face of consumer culture. Locality and sense of place still matter, and the people who actively participate in community are our greatest resource.