RACECOURSE TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO A GARDENERS PARADISE FOR ANNUAL SHOW
THE grounds of the Cork Racecourse will once again be looking ‘ blooming marvellous’ over the last weekend in May with the welcome return of the annual Mallow Homes and Garden Show.
Since it was first launched in 1999 the festival has become a Mecca for green-fingered enthusiasts, attracting thousands of visitors over three glorious days eager to savour the sights, smells and excitement of one of the biggest events of its kind in the country.
As ever, the beating heart of the show will be the unique collection of permanently maintained, mature gardens each of what has been created and developed by an Irish gardener and is tended throughout the year by an expert team.
That does not mean the gardens are presented in the same style and format each year. In fact, a huge amount of work goes in to revamping and reworking the gardens between each festival to ensure they look fresh and vibrant.
Once again some of the country’s top gardening experts will be on hand to share their expertise including free hourly lectures and presentations with Peter Dowdall, demonstrations by Margaret Mulchinock and flower arranger Charlie Wilkins, guided tours on demand and advice and tips form more than fifty of Ireland’s leading specialist growers.
There will be the usual flashes of brilliance with one of the highlights being a fairy themed garden created by designer Finbarr O’Neill, while renowned landscaper and festival curator Darren Drummond will be showing visitors how to make and manage gardens in shady places.
Designer Larry Lynch will once again create a display of unusual herbaceous perennials, while Ger Baker will be hoping to impress with some special fencing materials and the latest craze in lawn-making, synthetic grass.
With thousands of new and unusual flowering and foliage plants, garden equipment and furniture for sale at the home and garden zone there will be plenty to whet appetites and inspire visitors to transform their gardens, making them the envy of their neighbours and friends.
Other attractions across the weekend will include a pet show, vintage car collection, model boats show, active retirement talks, an artisan food market and expects from the Taste of North Cork Experience.
Admission to the show, which will run from May 26 – 28, will be €15, with concessions for seniors and children getting in for free.
There will be ample parking on site and if you fancy avoiding the traffic and leaving the car at home a free bus shuttle service will operate from Mallow train station during each of the three days.
For more information about the show and the programme for the weekend visit www.exhibitionsireland.com.