Wednesday 4th August: Kilgraney House & Herb Gardens with Aine McAteer

LEIGHLINBRIDGE
The Garden Village

The Leighlinbridge district is rich in history, favoured with fertile land and enhanced by the River Barrow which meanders slowly through the village. The foundation for its beauty lies directly with its people who demonstrate a sense of pride and work tirelessly to preserve and enhance this unique area. This pride is evidenced by a range of gardens, built and designed by the local community to commemorate various aspects of village life over the years. "It is a place of infinite tranquility and restfulness, an inspired use of a simple setting in this village of special charm" - Excerpt from the judging committee of the Barrow Awards Scheme on Leighlinbridge.

The Millennium Garden consists of seven small individual gardens, each with its own theme represented by trees, shrubs and stones. Using materials indigenous to the local area, the garden tells the story of life through a series of themes including peace and tranquillity, happiness, friendship, reconciliation, hope, harmony and eternity.
The Vivaldi Garden is based on Vivaldi’s musical concerto “The Four Seasons” and comprises four formal gardens, each depicting a season of the year. To create a formal effect each rectangle is lined with Buxus Sempervirens and formed into triangles with Lavendula. Each season is represented by specific planting including Primula and Rosemary Prostrata for spring. Campanula and Astilbies symbolise summer while autumn is characterised by a number of plants including Sedum, Lobelia Cardinalis and Sedum Spectabiles. In winter the garden is still a joy to visit planted with Erica December Red, Erica Sprindwood pink and Carex sempervirens.

The Garden of Remembrance beside the River Barrow commemorates important occasions in the history of the village including the visit of the Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulrooney, a World War 1 Memorial and the Entente Florale Gold Award. A number of commemorative trees have been planted together with ballerina roses and shrubs.

Leighlinbridge – the Garden Village

The Sculpture Garden is dedicated to three of Leighlinbridge’s most famous sons – Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran – Australia’s first Cardinal, John Tyndall, the mountaineer and scientist who developed the light pipe, the forerunner to fibre optics and Captain Myles Keogh, second in command to General Custer who lost his life at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876 at the hands of the Sioux.

 

Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow
Contact: Mary Meaney, Secretary - Leighlinbridge Improvement Group

t: + 353 (0) 86 6027751
w: www.carlowtourism.com/
leighlinbridgegardenvillage.html

Famous TV and radio faces Helen Dillon is a renowned plants woman, writer, lecturer and broadcaster. With her inimitable style, Helen’s workshops are guaranteed to appeal to everyone from the reluctant gardener to the green fingered enthusiast. With over 20 years experience in broadcasting and lecturing, Dermot O’ Neill is one of Ireland’s best-loved gardening experts. His down to earth, colourful and easy-to-follow style brings the joy of gardening to a wide audience. Dermot writes for the RTE Guide and is the gardening contributor to the Weekend Magazine in the Saturday Independent. Well known biologist Éanna Ní Lamhna, is the most distinctive voice in Irish Natural History, with a keen curiosity for the world around her. As well as her enthusiasm for creepy crawlies, she has a special interest in bats and her lively and informative workshops are guaranteed to keep both young and old entertained Aine McAteer – is an award winning cookbook author who has travelled the world as a personal chef for high profile Hollywood actors. Aine is currently writing on all aspects of food and health for Oprah Winfrey’s website and is also a weekly contributor for the Irish Independent Weekend Magazine. Joy Larkcom is the author of Grow Your Own Vegetables, the Organic Salad Gardener and Creative Vegetable Gardening. "As a veteran vegetable grower who has spent 40 years or so encouraging people to grow their own, to be adventurous about what they grow and not to be put off by having only a tiny plot, the current surge of interest in growing veg makes me jump for joy" Environmentalist and Nature Specialist, Dick Warner will lead walks in Altamont Gardens.

Directions: 9km south of Carlow town off the N9 to Kilkenny.

Facilities: restaurants, garden centre, hotel, pub, castle, historic buildings, angling, walking routes, picnic site.