IRISH GARDEN TOUR - MAY 5 TO 9, 2025
WITH THE LAND GARDENERS + CATHERINE FITZGERALD + CLAIRE WORTHINGTON
4 DAY TOUR
We invite you to visit some of the most remarkable gardens in the Ireland with The Land Gardeners, Catherine Fitzgerald of Glin Castle and Claire Worthington of Derreen Gardens.
The visit starts at historic Glin Castle, Co. Limerick, on the broad Shannon estuary: home to the FitzGerald family, hereditary Knights of Glin, for over 800 years.
With fairy tale battlements and Gothic pepperpot lodges, the 18th century house protects lush gardens filled with exotic trees and shrubs from the estuary winds.
The gentle influence of the Gulf stream combined with acid soil means that magnolias and other spring flowering trees thrive here and will be at their best in May. A new shady garden of tree ferns and azaleas is being carved out of the woodland beyond a tumbling stream. Ancient Killarney oaks protect the boundaries of the garden and a mysterious Gothic hermitage, dating from 1820, invites visitors deep into the woods. Lush foliage - gingers, palms and paulownia - contrast with the vast rhubarb shaped leaves of the prickly Gunnera. An in-process wild flower meadow is developing beyond the formal lawns with yew topiary. The vibrant walled garden with its fern encrusted stone walls and productive greenhouse provides fruit, vegetables, flowers and herbs for the castle. Enjoy the full country house experience – roaring fires – comfortable beds – atmospheric rooms and lovely friendly staff.
Next is Garnish Island, Sneem Co Kerry. Created by the 3rd and 4th Earls of Dunraven at end of the 19th beginning of 20th century – they called it a ‘Faery isle’. Over two generations shelter belts of pine were planted to create a microclimate within the island’s little stoney valleys. Once the wind shelter had grown up, soil was brought over to the island and the planting began – exciting new species which were arriving with the intrepid plant hunters from far and wide - throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Planted in the style of Irish gardener and writer William Robinson, trees, and shrubs from Chile, New Zealand and Tasmania grow happily together, seeding about naturally their feet covered in carpets of mosses, liverworts and ferns – a plantsman's Eden. The tides wash the shores and views stretch back to mountains to the north and out to Kenmare Bay and the Atlantic to the east and south. The garden is private and only very few groups can visit each year so it’s a thrilling opportunity to experience this very special place. The wonderful Head Gardener Seamus Galvin, will give us a tour.
Derreen Gardens, Lauragh Co Kerry, situated between Kenmare and Bantry, is a beautiful 19th century woodland garden with paths winding through rare tropical plants and opening onto sea views. Created by two successive generations of the Petty-Fitzmaurice family, many rhododendrons were brought back from Sikkim by the 5th Marquess of Lansdowne who was Viceroy of India (1888-94). Since then tree ferns and other exotics have naturalised in the mild wet climate – which, along with the giant natural outcrops of limestone and the towering Western Red Cedar, create a thrilling effect. Claire and Charlie Bigham will welcome us to stay in their private home and we will be taken on a private tour of the garden. There is also a lovely café with freshly made cakes.
Ilnacullin is an Arts and Crafts garden created on an island in Glengarrif Bay from 1911 onwards by Belfast merchant and MP John Annan Bryce and his wife Violet. It was designed by his friend, the landscape architect Harold Peto (1854-1933) and the garden is embued with Peto's passion for Italy. A classical rotunda frames the view back across Glengarrif bay and the garden is home to many exotic plants. It was gardened for over 40 years by distinguished Scottish head gardener Murdo Mackenzie and has been in the care of the Office of Public Works since the 1950s.
The visit will end with a night at the famous Ballymaloe House Hotel run by the Allen family. Before dinner we will have drinks with Rory O’Connell, co-founder of the Ballymaloe cookery school and brother of Darina Allen, at his home in Ballycotton. The following day we will have a tour of the Ballymaloe Cookery School, the gardens and shell house and learn about the new farm school with either Darina or Rory. There will be time for some shopping and lunch in the café.
This tour has a maximum of 10 guests.
£4100 (plus VAT)
To reserve your place please fill in the form below and we will send you confirmation and a request for payment of 50% as a deposit. Thank you.
The final payment will be due one month before the tour starts.