Carlow Garden Festival
Carlow Garden Festival
Saturday 24th July – Sunday 1st August 2021
Carlow Garden Festival 20201 Events
Garden Tour
Join Paul Martin, Gold Medal winner RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows, on a journey through the many wonderful gardens that have been created at Delta over the years including the Celtic Walk, the formal Rose Garden, the Five Senses Garden and the Stolen Child Garden.
River Walk and Gardening for Wildlife
Éanna Ní Lamhna, environmentalist and RTÉ personality leads a leisurely walk along the lovely banks of the River Barrow in Leighlinbridge, highlighting the history and heritage of this great river while identifying a wide variety of local flora and fauna.
The All-Year Garden
Most garden owners long to have a garden that looks good all year round. While there will always be a high and a low season in the garden, it should never look completely devoid of life, colour or interest.
Grow Your Own Food
Klaus Laitenberger covers how to grow your own organic vegetables, salads and fruit by choosing the right varieties, the best sowing dates and how to prevent pests and diseases as well as keeping weeds under control.
Arthur Shackleton at Burtown House
Arthur Shackleton, renowned gardener designer shares his background in garden consultancy showing examples of his design approach to gardens he has worked on in the past and continues to work on today including Ashford, Dromoland and Glin Castles, Lyons Demesne, Coolmore Stud and Airfield House in Dundrum and Butler House in Kilkenny.
Remarkable Trees with Thomas Pakenham
Experience the magnificent Borris House with Thomas Pakenham, exploring its many rare and unusual great trees including a number of beautiful specimen trees.
New plants in an old demesne
Seamus O’Brien explores the evolution of the gardens at Huntington Castle focusing on both historic and new planting, including the planting of acid-loving rhododendrons under his advice in recent times.
Gardening Together
Garden designer Diarmuid Gavin and Carlow plantsman Paul Smyth tell the story of their Garden Conversations lockdown broadcasts, introducing us to the community of gardeners around the world who it built while also sharing an invigorating tour of their respective plots in this light hearted and informative talk.
Duckett’s Grove – Garden Tour
Join Shirley Shirley Lanigan, the noted Irish author as she talks about the changing world of open Irish gardens, with reference to the growth of interest in tings organic and responsible, and will take parts of the garden as illustration.
My favourite plants
Seamus O’ Brien, internationally renowned plantsman and Curator of the Botanic Gardens in Kilmacurragh picks out his top plants from surprising novelties to rising stars for your garden.
Planting for Long Term Colour and Interest in the Garden
As a painter and artist Philippa Bayliss’ garden is all about colour and this talk by GLDA member Patricia Tyrrell discusses and explains how to work successfully with colour in the garden.
Planning Your Future Garden
Paul Maher, recently retired Curator of the National Botanic Gardens will discuss gardening techniques and thrifty design principles to allow you enjoy your garden for many years to come.
Seed Saving and Save Money
In these times when it is often much harder to get the seed you want, discover how to collect your own.
Grow a longer, healthier, happier life
What is it about gardening that tends to lead to longer more fulfilled lives?



