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Aided by Thomas D’Arcy Hoey, Thomas Smith created Daisy Hill Nursery in the late 1880s. The Nursery began as six acres of daisy-covered fields on the west side of Newry and went on to become quite reputable for their unique collection of rare plants. After Thomas Smith’s death in 1919, the nursery was passed on to his eldest son George Norman Smith (G.N. Smith) and son- in-law William Locke. Much like his father, G.N Smith was praised for his work, particularly in introducing the flowers Rosa ‘Macrantha Daisy Hill’ and Rosa ‘Narrow Water’ which were named after local estates.
The nursery had many noted visitors throughout the years including members of the Irish Gardeners’ Association, the famous horticulturist William Robinson and the curator of Trinity College Botanic Garden, Frederick Burbidge. Visitors were welcomed at all times and encouraged to use the area for teas and luncheons. G.N. Smith even arranged for a military band from an army garrison in Newry to play in the Pond Field on Sunday afternoons. However, there were many trials throughout the years, which affected the nursery greatly. Aside from an economic recession after World War I, the nursery fell into debt after the death of G. N. Smith in 1939, which caused many of the workers to be made redundant.
The company’s papers were recycled in the early 1940s for the war effort, which resulted in Thomas Smith’s notes on growing plants and rare species being lost. In addition to this, the staff became smaller and priority was given to growing vegetables rather than growing plants. There was further upset to the nursery when Locke died in February 1941 leaving the nursery without a leader and with an £800 debt to the bank. 1942 saw the sale of the nursery and its stock; the stock was purchased by the McGredy Nursery in Portadown and Thomas Grills, a son-in-law of G.N. Smith, bought the land. He subsequently started Daisy Hill Nurseries Ltd with the help of his brother-in-law Walter Blythe and plantsman, Paddy Hanratty. In 1948, Hanratty staged a 400 square feet exhibit at the Royal Dublin Society’s Ballsbridge Show and won a gold medal for the nursery. The landscaping aspect of the business was restarted in 1956 in order to increase sales and to make use of the plant stocks. One of the gardens that was rejuvenated by the nursery was Killowen Cottage in Rostrevor, home of Major and Mrs G. W. Reside.
In 1962 Hanratty earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Long Service Medal for 40 years with one firm, the first one awarded in Ireland and again, in 1973, he received the Royal Ulster Horticultural Society’s Long Service Medal for 51 years.
Daisy Hill Nursery closed in 1996, and of the estimated 300 cultivars that were bred, and named by Daisy Hill Nursery, only a small percentage remains to this day.
The Museum is currently offering free tours of the main exhibition galleries on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2.00 pm. These must be booked in advance by calling our Education Officer at 0330 137 4422.
Newry and Mourne Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 am – 4.30 pm. Please call 0330 137 4422 or email museums@nmandd.org for further information.
You can visit Musuem website at www.visitmournemountains.co.uk
