CARLOW GARDEN FESTIVAL

IRELAND: FRIDAY 21 JULY - SUNDAY 30 JULY 2017

County Carlow, located in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East is a treasure trove of wonderful gardens to visit. Some of the best in the country are here and are celebrated during a ten-day garden festival held each July. Featuring 16 celebrated garden experts in 16 great and unique gardening locations, the 2017 festival kicks off on 21 July. Over ten days an interesting mix of top UK gardeners and the best of Irish garden broadcasters and writers deliver workshops and talks, offering something to interest everyone from novice gardeners to garden connoisseurs, and garden designers to nature lovers.

Monty Don, who has 25 years of experience gardening his garden at Longmeadow, heads the panel and opens the festival at Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven, regarded as Ireland’s best garden centre. Other highlights include an extensive series of garden tours and talks led by Neil Porteous – Head Gardener at Mount Stewart, Dermot O'Neill – broadcaster and garden author, Roy Lancaster – broadcaster and gardening expert, James Wong on how to eat better and garden designer and presenter Joe Swift. Other gardening experts include Chelsea gold medal winner Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall, Mary Keenan of the renowned Gash Gardens, Jimi Blake of Huntingbrook Gardens in County Wicklow, and Mary Reynolds who leads talks around Shankill Castle and Borris House.

The Carlow Garden Festival is a wonderful opportunity to explore the diversity of the Carlow Garden Trail, a collection of 20 different gardening attractions.

Great value accommodation breaks, along with details of the festival programme, can be found at carlowgardentrail.com or alternatively ring Carlow Tourism on + 353 (0) 59 9130411 for further details.