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David Robinson - an appreciation

The Irish Garden magazine, May 2004

David Robinson, who died last month after several months of ill-health, was a remarkable man by any standard of that description. Few people are possessed of such enormous energy, enthusiasm and great intellect. He was a rare combination of world-class scientific researcher and keen hobby gardener. While bringing his professional scientist's rigour to his everyday gardening. he also brought his gardener's practical knowledge to scientific enquiry. From Northern Ireland originally, David Robinson was already a horticultural researcher of very considerable repute when he came south as director of the horticultural research section of the then Agricultural Institute, later Teagasc. He had for some years carried out research work at the Lough Gall research station, Co. Armagh, specialising in weed control, especially simazine, and he was a world expert on weed control, speaking in many countries and writing scores of scientific papers.

David challenged every easy assumption of gardening and horticulture and liked nothing more than to disentangle fact from fable. He had a great sense of humour and he enjoyed a bit of fun. Always gracious and unfailingly polite, he had an inimitable way of couching a serious question in a gently humorous aside. His garden on Howth, developed over forty years, has achieved an international reputation and has been on most serious gardeners' itineraries when visiting Ireland. He was a great champion of gardening and horticulture, constantly promoting the industry in every way possible. He loved to share his knowledge and was a sought-after lecturer, carefully preparing each talk.

After he retired, he lectured in Germany as a visiting professor and led gardening cruises and visits to various far-flung parts of the world, using the opportunity always to broaden his knowledge of plants. He was a regular participant in the RTE radio phone-in programme Ask About Gardening and contributed to many publications including The Irish Garden. His family have lost a fine husband and father, his many friends and colleagues in Irish gardening and horticulture have lost a great presence.

Gerry Daly

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