If you love to explore nature, you should book a visit to one of many gardens in Ireland. This article lists the top gardens worth a visit if you would like to get the most out of each experience.
When you are planning a trip to Ireland during the summer, there is one type of attraction that should not be missing in your itinerary: gardens. You will be surprised how many gardens there are to explore in Ireland and they range from small and intimate to grand and immaculately crafted. Whether you want to feast your eyes on beautiful flora or an avid collector of various flora specimens, you will be excited to discover what each garden has to offer.
Brigits Garden
If you are in search of a garden with a non-conventional design, this is what you are looking for. It is set on a relaxed woodland style that showcases the Celtic history in Ireland. The garden is named after St. Brigid. The main attraction in Brigits Garden is Samhain, which is a figure of a sleeping woman surrounded by a still lake.
The garden also features an educational trail wherein you can follow along a series of sign posts. Aside from the lake, the garden is also home to a meadow and woodland. You can also find the largest sundial in Ireland in this garden.
Caher Bridge Gardens
Go to County Clare to visit another popular garden in Ireland: Caher Bridge Garden. The famous gardener Carl Wright transformed the outdoor space from his stone cottage into one of Ireland’s most beautiful gardens. Aside from the garden itself, there are several other hidden gems close to the Caher Bridge Gardens such as the beach at Fanore (which is a popular surfing beach in the area) or explore the Caher Valley. If you need a place to grab a quick bite, the O’Donohue’s Pub is also close by. This is a place famous for their fish and chips, seafood platter and seafood chowders.
Skygarden
The Skygarden in County Cork is one of the most spectacular gardens you will ever visit, in Ireland and in the world. This is just one of two magnificent gardens designed by James Turrell and was commissioned by Liss Ard’s former owner. It is a complex installation that cost half a million Euros to build! The garden and outdoor installation has drawn inspiration from various sources and ancient art forms such as the Celtics, Mayans, and Egyptians. The entrance to the garden is a henge type stone arch. The acoustic design is also carefully planned such that sounds from the outside cannot be heard in the garden.
Helen Dillon’s Garden
In the heart of Dublin is another notable garden, which was built and developed by a well-known plants woman Helen Dillon. Dillon is a broadcaster and has written a number of gardening books. She showcases her knowledge and skill in gardening in her own garden, which is flanked by a wide range of flora species and a long, glorious pond. Even though the garden is small, it compensates for it with its sheer beauty. The garden is open to visitors during the afternoons of March and from July to August. If you want to see the flowers in the garden in full bloom, visit during summer time! There is an admission fee of 5 Euros to explore the garden and you may even buy coveted plants for sale!