Breeder News

McGredy’s expertise was partnered with a flair for publicity Sam McGredy was known for his generosity and appreciation for a job well done. Sam McGredy Born: January 12th, 1932 Sam McGredy, who has died in his 88th year in his adopted home of New Zealand, was a Portadown native and one of the world’s greatest rose breeders. For him, a rose had to combine appearance and fragrance. He won many of the great international rose prizes in Ireland, Britain, Europe, Asia and Australasia. One of his outstanding successes was taking the Golden Rose at the Hague Rose Trials an unprecedented four times. McGredy had an eye for a rose. He could pick a winner from thousands of seedlings. He saw the keys to plant breeding as observation, quantity and efficiency. Observation taught him what was happening: having a reasonable quantity of seedlings improved the chance of finding an outstanding flower: attention to detail improved germination rates. Combined with breeding expertise was a flair for publicity. He had an ability to cultivate relationships with the famous, and to spot social and cultural trends. He wished to name a rose Picasso, and contacted the artist. He was delighted when Picasso replied in the affirmative. The late Queen Mother was another who gave permission, her name being used for Elizabeth of Glamis. Samuel Darragh McGredy was born in January 1932 in Portadown, youngest of three children and only son to Sam McGredy and his wife Ruth (née Darragh). His father was the third generation of Sam McGredys to operate a nursery in Portadown, and be noted for rose breeding. When he was two his father died suddenly. He was educated at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, Greenmount Agricultural College in Co Tyrone and Reading University. After formal education, he gained experience in a wholesale nursery in Surrey, then took over the family nursery. After his father’s death an uncle by marriage had managed the nursery and kept it open through difficult times. Initially McGredy endeavoured to continue rose breeding where his father left off, but quickly decided it […]

Source: www.irishtimes.com