Ireland’s Gardens

Ireland is renowned for it's rainy weather, but the regular rains are the reason for the island's forty shades of green. The maritime climate also allows for the growth of wonderful, lush vegetation throughout the country. Differences in regional weather and landscape, as well as the influence of the different gardeners, ensure that no two gardens you visit will the same. To start planning your garden tour of Ireland, contact us today.

As most itineraries will start in Dublin, we recommend a visit to Malahide Castle gardens which cover an area of about 22 acres and, as well as having plenty of floral specimens, the walled garden is home to Ireland’s only Butterfly House with 20 different exotic species. A trip to the National Botanical gardens on the north of the city centre is also a must. They house collections of plant species and cultivars from all over the world, with many contained in exquisitely restored historic glasshouses.

A second National Botanic Garden can be found in nearby County Wicklow, which is known as the Garden of Ireland, and other gardens in Wicklow worth visiting include Mount Usher, Kilruddery and Powerscourt, which was previously voted 3rd best garden in the world by National Geographic.

Further from the capital, some other stunning gardens include Mount Congreve in Waterford, the Japanese Gardens in Kildare and Oakfield Park in Donegal.

A more unique visit is the Poison Garden at Blarney Castle. Be sure to only kiss the Blarney stone while there.

In West Cork, Garinish Island Gardens in Glengariff is sheltered by woodland. It is also impacted by the effects of the gulf stream and combined with the unique layout of Glengarriff Harbour, this results in a unique micro climate in which an amazing range of exotic species flourish. Getting there involves a 15 minute boat ride past small islands populated by seals, which adds even further to the magic of this location.

Not only can we help you to create the perfect Garden Tour itinerary for your time in Ireland, but we can also provide a specialist guide to accompany you throughout your trip. We will also arrange for guided tour of the gardens given by the gardeners. So contact our travel experts today, and remember, you can also combine your garden tour with other activities to make the most of your visit to Ireland.