- Rokeby Hall Walled Gardens & Woodland: A remarkable 19th-century estate restoration project. The extensive walled garden is the centrepiece, meticulously divided into “rooms” featuring a traditional fruit orchard, a formal parterre with geometric box hedging, a vibrant cutting garden, and a serene ornamental pond. Beyond the walls, the wildflower meadows and ancient woodland walks planted with rare specimen trees offer a contrasting, naturalistic beauty. The restoration philosophy focuses on heritage horticulture and sustainable practices.
- Ardee Castle Medieval Garden: A unique horticultural attraction set within the grounds of a fortified 13th-century tower house. This small but fascinating garden is laid out in the style of a medieval herber, showcasing the plants that would have been grown for food, medicine, dye, and strewing herbs in the Middle Ages. Features include raised wattle beds, a cloister-like arbour, and a central fountain or water feature symbolising purity. It is a living history lesson in the practical and symbolic uses of plants in medieval Ireland.
- Townley Hall Woodland Garden & Arboretum: Located beside the majestic River Boyne and the historic Townley Hall house, this is a paradise for tree lovers. The Victorian-era arboretum and woodland walks are planted with an outstanding collection of rare and champion trees from across the globe, including towering redwoods, ancient oaks, and colourful acers. In spring, the ground is carpeted with a breathtaking display of naturalised bluebells and wild garlic. The emphasis here is on tranquil, contemplative walks through mature, structured plantings.
- Darver Castle Walled Garden: Located within the grounds of a restored 17th-century castle, this is a charming and intimate garden. The walled kitchen garden follows a traditional, productive design with espaliered fruit trees against the sun-warmed stone walls, neatly regimented vegetable plots, and a herbaceous border brimming with perennial colour. The style is elegantly functional, blending heritage vegetable varieties with ornamental planting to create a garden that is both beautiful and useful, evoking the self-sufficient estate gardens of the past.
- Famine Museum & Gardens, Saint Oliver Plunkett Memorial: While primarily a historical site, the grounds here feature a poignant and thoughtfully designed commemorative garden. It incorporates native Irish hedging, wildflower meadows, and subtly placed heritage potato cultivars to reflect the agricultural landscape and botany of the 1840s Famine period. The planting is understated and symbolic, designed for quiet reflection on Ireland’s natural and social history, making it a powerful horticultural attraction of a different kind.
- Bonus Mention – Nurseries & Garden Centres: For visitors seeking plants, **Beechlawn Organic Nursery near Drogheda is highly regarded for its wide selection of hardy perennials, shrubs, and its commitment to organic growing principles, offering inspiration for one’s own garden.
Gardens to Visit
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
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