Carlow Garden Festival

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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

Experience the magnificent Borris House with Thomas Pakenham, exploring its many rare and unusual great trees including a number of beautiful specimen trees.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

In these times when it is often much harder to get the seed you want, discover how to collect your own.

What is it about gardening that tends to lead to longer more fulfilled lives?