Well, planted some strawberries and sown some wildflowers today in Clontarf/Rahenyarea. Clues as follows:
Strawberries love
sandy soil and sunnyish aspect, and a warm sea breeze helps too. But not too much sand & no salt, so that rules some things out. It helps if there is some mulch like chippings, like where there might have recently been a clearing along a road./path. Planting near car-parks is good too, so that people will walk past them.
Wildflowers need some sun, and good soil, but not where grass is cut, under trees,but not in full shade & near car parks.
Best of luck with the Sunflowers RonanC !