The Green Barn welcomes award-winning author, chef and cookery teacher Gill Meller of River Cottage, cooking from the kitchen garden at The Green Barn for a special one-night-only dinner, a unique pop up event. 

On Saturday November 18th pianist Finghin Collins and Violinist Katherine Hunka, will perform a programme of sonatas for violin and piano, from Beethoven’s energetic A minor Sonata to Brahms’ gloriously sunny G major violin sonata, passing by contemporary Irish composer Ian Wilson and the

Attractions & Activities: Local artisan CRAFT and FOOD market, Weaving, woodturning & blacksmith demos, Santa’s Grotto with surprise for each child, Festive face painting of Christmas characters, Make and do Christmas workshops, Falconry Display by East Coast Falconry, Live Christmas Crib with Wooly Farm

Snowdrops, aconites, hellebores and early bulbs throughout the garden and woods signal the first signs of spring. The Gallery exhibition hosts “February Flowers” - an exhibition of mainly snowdrop paintings by different botanical artists, including Wendy Walsh and Lesley Fennell. The Green Barn Restaurant

Enjoy the spectacular early Spring bulbs and carpet of snowdrops on February 10th & 11th at Shankill Castle. Castle tours also available by appointment. Adults €5, €10 castle tour and walk. Group, family ticket and concessions available.

The very popular Snowdrop Week at Altamont Gardens runs from February 12th - 18th and is a great opportunity to view this unique collection, first started by Corona North, former owner of the gardens, and now amongst the largest in Ireland, with over 100 named varieties. Daily guided tours with Head Gardener

An original 17th century garden, the wilderness and parterre areas have undergone extensive restoration in recent years. Highlights include the 500 year old yew walk and a number of champion trees. Within this setting are some charming woodland walks with snowdrop and spring bulb plantings. 17th - 18th February

Plant a Tree for Your Space - Tree Week at Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven Saturday 10th March 2018  Location Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, Leighlinbridge,…

The Easter Train leaves the Rathwood Courtyard daily and heads to the woods where the Easter Bunny has a secret mission: to deliver a basket of Easter eggs to a very special person. But the Bunny’s mission might not be as easy to accomplish as originally planned

Visit one of the most extensive collections of daffodils in the country with over 10,000 flowers and numerous varieties on display. Delicious selection of refreshments, pastries, snacks, cakes and lunches available throughout the day

Grow Your Own Herbs and Weber Launch Saturday 24th March 2018  Location: Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow t: 059-9721558 e: info@arboretum.ie w: www.arboretum.ie…

The wonderfully talented Marie O’Leary gives a demonstration on how to create an array of beautiful Easter and early spring floral arrangements and decorations for your home. €10 for attendance including morning coffee and be in with a chance to win Marie’s arrangement on the day with raffle tickets at €5. Altamont Plant Sales will also be stocking flower arranging basics to help you create your own stunning arrangements at home. Places are limited so booking is recommended.

Easter Tree with Easter Egg Decorating Saturday 31st March – Monday 2nd April 2018 Location: Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow t: 059-9721558 e:…

The perfect location for an Easter Egg and Bunny Rabbit Treasure Hunt. Each child receives a basket and a set of clues... they then have to find the golden nuggets and win a chocolate surprise at the end! There will also be an opportunity to meet some of the new little lambs and enjoy the adventure playground.

The wonder of woodland plants is explored with talks by Jimi Blake of Hunting Brook Gardens and Mike Keep of Shady Plants. Jimi Blake, stellar plants man, gardener and visionary creator of Hunting Brook Gardens brings us on a comprehensive journey through the vast array of flowers and foliage in the Hunting Brook Woodland Gardens. Mike Keep gives a talk on the history of ferns and their uses in traditional and modern gardens. Tickets cost €25 including morning coffee, complimentary buffet lunch, talks and priority admission to a rare plant sale. Places are limited for this event so booking is recommended.

Easter Extravaganza at Delta Sensory Gardens March 31, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Join Mr Hop – the Easter Bunny and his friends for some egg-citing…

Principles of Garden Design Saturday 7th April 2018 Location: Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow t: 059-9721558 e: info@arboretum.ie w: www.arboretum.ie GPS: 52.742832, -6.975890

Help Cinderella find her shoe in time for the tea party at Rathwood. Together with Cinderella, visitors will hop aboard the Rathwood Express Train down to the woodland where they will meet the fairy godmother and feed her geese. During the slipper decorating workshop each child will be able to design their own slipper to bring home. There will also be an afternoon tea party fit for a princess, with Rathwood home-baked treats, a selection of finger sandwiches and yummy hot chocolate.

This course provides a valuable introduction to garden design and is aimed at providing the participant with the tools to enable them to design their own dream garden. It covers all aspects of the design process including analysing your garden, surveying it, gathering inspiration on how you want it to look, drawing up a garden design plan and the implementation of your design. Delivered by Ingrid Smyth MGLDA, Dip, Hor. and PMP Project Manager.

With talks by Hester Forde of Coosheen Gardens and Carmel Duignan, Garden Writer and plants person. Tickets €25 including morning coffee, complimentary buffet lunch, talks and priority admission to plant sales area

Burtown House and Gardens hosts the rare and special plant fair, in association with Bord Bia. Features over 40 specialist stands of rare and unusual plants with expert advice from growers.

Exhibition of botanical work by acclaimed botanical artist Wendy Walsh at The Green Barn Restaurant, Shop and Gallery.

All children receive a craft activity to take home, a train ride trail with lots of surprises and characters along the way, admission into The Maze of Ireland and a free hot chocolate voucher for the on-site restaurant.

Jacinta Crowley-Long returns to Altamont for her second one-day painting master class for beginners and improvers. Classes consist of an initial demonstration by the artist and students will then have an opportunity to paint with helpful guidance on choosing a subject, composition and painting techniques from Jacinta.  Classes take place within the borders of Altamont Plant Sales and in the classroom. One day course including morning coffee and complimentary buffet lunch €75. Places limited, booking essential.

It’s back and bigger than ever! Join us on the Teddy bear picnic for a day you won’t forget. Go on an adventure with Goldilocks and the three bears and visit the teddy bear factory where you will create your very own bear with Goldilocks and her friends.

The Festival of Writing and Ideas will mark its seventh year in 2018, bringing you a weekend of stimulating dialogue and discourse, gathering together intriguing international minds – historians, novelists, journalists, film-makers, poets, theatre directors, war correspondents, biographers, artists and political commentators – and inviting them to Borris Village for a few days.

The Festival of Writing and Ideas will mark its seventh year in 2018, bringing you a weekend of stimulating dialogue and discourse, gathering together intriguing international minds – historians,…

Painting the Garden at Altamont Gardens June 16, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm Jacinta Crowley-Long returns to Altamont for her sone-day painting master class for beginners…

Fantastic selection of activities, including face painting, treasure trail and more. Lunch, tea/coffee and snacks available from the on-site café. Summer bedding, shrubs and hanging baskets available from the garden centre. Further details closer to the event on facebook and at www.deltasensorygardens.com

Bare 2018 takes place in the magical Borris House Estate with the Blackstairs Mountains as a backdrop and the River Barrow flowing beside it’s beautiful woodland and gardens.

Water Garden Masterclass Saturday 7th July 2018 Location: Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow t: 059-9721558 e: info@arboretum.ie w: www.arboretum.ie GPS: 52.742832, -6.975890

This year the Carlow Garden Festival continues over 11 days and promises a busy programme offering a variety of gardening workshops and talks set to inspire every level of gardener. The 2018 programme features an appealing mix of world-class UK gardeners including Chris Beardshaw, Carol Klein and Fergus Garrett combined with the very best of Irish garden broadcasters, writers and new trailblazers in Irish horticulture.

Two talks to take place in the Delta Sensory Gardens, first talk to be held on Monday July 30th by John Anderson, Head Gardener at Windsor and Savill Gardens and the second talk to place on Monday August 6th by Elma Fenton.

With talks by Chris Beardshaw, renowned designer, plantsman, broadcaster, speaker and author and Fergus Garret, Head Gardener at Great Dixter

To be opened by Suzanne McGougald, Trustee of the National Gallery, and late owner of the Solomon Gallery in Dublin. This is the third exhibition started by Seamus O' Brien, OPW Kilmacurragh in which invited artists paint from a different garden every two years.

Autumn Bulb Masterclass Saturday 15th September 2018 Location: Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow t: 059-9721558 e: info@arboretum.ie w: www.arboretum.ie GPS: 52.742832, -6.975890

Planning for autumn at Altamont Plant Sales September 29 With Fionnuala Fallon, Horticulturist, garden writer, fower farmer and garden designer.

Houseplants Masterclass Saturday 13th October 2018 Location: Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow t: 059-9721558 e: info@arboretum.ie w: www.arboretum.ie GPS: 52.742832, -6.975890

This special festival guarantees lots of wicked and wonderful things that will make you jump in the gardens including Halloween games, ghosts, ghouls and much more. Prize for best costume of the day

Halloween at Huntington Castle October 27 - October 31 A Halloween Spookfest at a genuine haunted castle! Features a ghostly guided tour with ghosts, ghouls and…

Cut Loose Pruning Masterclass Saturday 3rd November 2018 Location: Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow t: 059-9721558 e: info@arboretum.ie w: www.arboretum.ie GPS: 52.742832, -6.975890