Martin & Joan Tully, Proprietors
A native of Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, Martin always had an interest in Horticulture stemming from the days of maintaining his own vegetable patch from a very young age! Having graduated from the National Botanic gardens, Martin joined the Fingal County Council before setting up his own landscaping business. Both Martin & Joan decided to set up Tully Nurseries in 1979. They did so initially so Martin could have a wide range of containerised plants at his disposal for his landscaping business. Having worked in the Department of Agriculture for a few years, Joan, from Castleisland, Co. Kerry brought her huge range of administration skills to the business. In the early days the business was funded by the landscaping company. The nursery developed from a 1 acre site to the 25 acre site it is today due to the demand for the company’s own new Hebe varieties from the UK and the general growth in the industry.
Padraig Tully, Managing Director
Padraig graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from UCD in May 1997. Having spent the Summer in Monrovia Nursery in California, he returned to Ireland to take up a position with Tully Nurseries where he is now Managing Director. Padraig is heavily involved in nursery production and export dispatch. He can be accredidated with recent developments such as the improvements in infrastructure, 5 acre tunnel, new warehouse with loading bays and state of the art space-o-mat system. A little known fact is that he holds an all Ireland Olympic Handball medal for primary school level!!!
Niamh Tully, Marketing Manager
Niamh graduated with a DBS, Degree in Business Studies from Griffith College Dublin in 1996. The following year she completed a MBS Masters in Marketing from Dublin City University. She caught the travel bug and toured Australia, Asia and New Zealand before settling down in the family business. In 1998, she saw the opportunity to steer the company in a more customer focused direction with an emphasis on sales and marketing as the industry at the time was very much production orientated. Her main duties include initiating marketing activities and managing garden centre, DIY and Export sales. Niamh teaches the piano and is a lover of the gym and bootcamp.
Barry Evans, Cash & Carry Manager
A native of Malahide, Barry graduated with a Diploma with distinction in Amenity Horticulture from the National Botanic Gardens in 1997. He subsequently took up the position of Head Gardener at Skidoo Stud, Ballyboughal and Corbalton Hall, Co Meath for seven years. He then moved to Finnstown House Hotel in Lucan as Head Gardener where he continued to develop his expertise. He joined Tully Nurseries in April 2006 as a member of the sales team. He was appointed Cash & Carry Manager in January 2007. He is responsible for the day to day running of the Cash & Carry which includes managing the sales team, order assembly & dispatch and the ongoing planning and development of the Cash & Carry. Many of you will not know that Barry raced pigeons for many years. Please don’t make any reference to Jack Duckworth!!! He is also a fanatical Metallica fan!
Eimear Carr, Financial Controller
Originally from Warrenpoint in County Down, Eimear pursued a career in Accounting, and after qualifying with a BA (Hons) Accounting from university she obtained a professional qualification as a Certified Accountant (FCCA). After working in Dublin’s city centre, Eimear decided to avoid the traffic and venture closer to home by joining Tully Nurseries in 2002. You will be most familiar with Eimear if you are looking for a few bob! Eimear manages all aspects of the financial accounts of the company.
Dagmara Strachota, Buyer
Dagmara (Dag) graduated from university with a degree in Marketing and Management before pursuing a career in Horticulture. Raised on her father’s nursery in Poland, she moved to Ireland in 2001 and continued to pursue her love for horticulture by working in Newland’s Garden Centre. Dag joined the sales team in Tully Nurseries in September 2005. After the birth of her son Alex in 2006 she progressed to the position of Cash & Carry buyer. Dag is responsible for purchasing both plants and sundries on a weekly basis. She actively sources plants from all over the World to ensure we always have a wide range in stock. Her passion for plants ensures that we maintain our extensive range as well as the introduction of new and exciting plants. Dag says that despite her height she managed to be the best handball player in school. You don’t have to be tall to score!!!
Toby Smith, Sales Executive
Originally from Hillier’s country, Romsey, Hampshire in the UK, Toby qualified with Higher National Diploma in Architectural drawing and building studies from Brighton University in 1994. Having worked as a surveyor for an Architectural Aluminium Glazing company, he ventured to Australia in 1997 where he had his first introduction to Tully Nurseries when he met his future wife Niamh while working in Cannon Street hostel in Adelaide. Toby joined the team at Tully Nurseries in 1999 and was given the mundane task of sorting out thousands of labels as an initiation. Many of you will have received deliveries from Toby in the early days. As his knowledge of plants and customers requirements grew, he progressed into his current position of landscape sales. In addition to sales, he also purchases Italian specimen plants and ornamental pots. In his formative years, Toby was a cadet in the navy and almost captained the QE2 but was rumbled wearing the wrong coat.
Jennifer Seery, Senior Office Administrator
Prior to joining Tully Nurseries in July 2000, Jennifer (Jen) was an administrator for both Denis Mahony Motors & Avis Fleet Services in Kilbarrack. Many of you will have spoken to Jennifer on the phone over the years as she is often our first point of contact for the customer. Jen is Tully Nurseries key administrator and her role includes processing garden centre and export orders, goods inwards and production of the familiar barcoded labels on our products. Jennifer is a huge James Blunt fan and was a member of the first mixed Scout troop in Ireland.
Fergal McIlroy, Sales Executive
A native Dub, Fergal worked in the printing /graphic design business before qualifying with a Further Education & Training Award from Warrenstown college in 2003. After working in Gardenworks Clonee he joined the sales team in Tully Nurseries in October 2007. His main responsibilities include dealing with customers who visit the Cash & Carry on a daily basis and customer sales and quotations. In addition to this, his artistic flair and creativity often comes in handy in assisting the marketing team. Would you believe Fergal is interested in genealogy and is currently pursuing his family tree (have you looked down in the tree unit yet Fergal?!!!) Fergal was a keen soccer, snooker and Gaelic player. He has also a key interest in Astronomy but this Space Cadet firmly has his feet on the ground!
Paul Gough, Driver
Paul is a local man born and bred in Ballyboughal. He worked with James Nugent & Sons, Fruit & Vegetable distributors for four years before joining Tully Nurseries in 2000. You will all be familiar with Paul if you avail of our delivery service! Paul is fanatical about motorbike racing where he is a member of the Loughshinny motorcycle club.