Dublin Garden Festival 2015
Christ Church Cathedral is thrilled to announce that it is going to host another Dublin Garden Festival this year after the success of the previous year’s festival. It will take place on Friday 19th June until Sunday 21st June 2015. The flower arrangements will be of both contemporary and classical styles which have been created by very talented Irish floral artists. Colourful flower displays will also be placed within the cathedral. Horticulturists will offer gardening advice to visitors at the festival. The festival will have live entertainment, gourmet food and Irish food produce, craft demonstrations, birds of prey and a petting zoo for the kids.
‘Gardening with the Experts’ will be held on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th of June in the cathedrals 19th century music room. Gardening experts will discuss how to create a beautiful urban garden within your budget and other interesting horticultural topics.
Ticket cost
Admission to the Cathedral and crypt
Adult: €6
Concession: €4.50 (OAP/student)
Kids: €2 (under 16 years)
Groups: €4.20 (pre booked of 10 or more)
Tickets are also available at the door.
Exhibitors
Fiann ó Nuactáin (GIY expert)
Fiann is both an author and award winning holistic gardener. In his book he discusses the healing properties of herbs and plants for both physical and mental ailments. He has been on gardening programmes on both TG4 and RTE.
The ICA
The Irish Country Women’s Association is a large women’s organisation which facilitates their personal development, friendships and keeping their Irish heritage and traditions alive. The ICA flower arrangements are in much demand and they will display arrangements at the festival this year.
The Mother’s Union International Charity
This is an international charity with 4 million members in 83 different countries whose aim is to support the protection of kids, marriage stability and families. Not all of the members are mothers or even women.
Catherine Green
The Daisy Throne
Catherine Green is an artist who has had exhibitions at the RHA and Eigse, Co. Sligo amongst others. Some of her work is presently on tour with the Craft Council of Ireland. She says “when we are in a creative flow, the mind becomes still and a meditative place emerges”. “The Daisy Throne”, is based on the Hans Christian Anderson’s fairytale “The Daisy”.
Ruth Kenny and Ciara O’Donovan of Rosebud
Enchanted Meadow
This piece of art was inspired by the Japanese animated fairy tale ‘Princess Mononoke’. The installations will include a decorated tree with ornamented flower ropes and ivy and Spanish moss. There will be real grass with both fresh and paper wild flowers sprouting from it, and exotic stuffed animals will roam through it. Children will be invited to sit on the small toadstools in designated areas. The soft melody of birds singing will play in the background. The contrast of the special lighting against the picturesque meadow scene at twilight instills a beautiful sense of the fairy tale artwork.
Niall O’Brien
The Grow Dome Project
The Grow Dome Project is a community based initiative launched in September 2014. It explores the viability of using brownfield urban sites for both food production and job opportunities. It demonstrates the use for sustainable technologies in food production & energy conservation.
Lynn Haughton
Material World
Lynn Haughton from The Upcycle Movement has created a garden made entirely from old clothes. Her ideas have been inspired from children’s drawings and fairy tales. The clothes were sourced from The Midlands Simon Community Charity Shops.
Guest SpeakersFacebook
Christopher White
Floral Designer
Christopher White is a multiple Chelsea-medal winning Floral Designer, Florist and Area Demonstrator who specialises in weddings, special occasions, and corporate events.
Eamon Dunphy
Eamon is an Irish media personality, broadcaster, author, sports pundit and former professional footballer.
Trevor Sargent
GIY Enthusiast, former Politician and Author
Trevor is a former Green Party politician and author of ‘Trevor’s Kitchen Garden’.
Gerry Daly
Horticulturalist and Gardener
Gerry is the editor of The Irish Garden magazine and the website garden.ie. He also writes gardening columns for the Sunday Independent and the Irish Farmer’s Journal.
Diarmuid Gavin
Gardener and Landscape Designer
Diarmuid is one of Ireland’s best known gardeners known for his unique and contemporary garden designs.
Denise Dunne
Herb Expert
Denise runs The Herb Garden, a certified organic specialist herb plant and seed nursery, established in 1995. She also offers herb garden designs and an organic consultancy service.
Helen Dillon
World-renowned plants woman
Helen Dillon is a plants woman, writer, lecturer and broadcaster. Together with her husband Val, she has created a magnificent garden which is highly admired in the horticultural world.
Jane McCorkell
Garden and Landscape Architect
Jane is a Landscape Architect and Horticultural Consultant for both domestic and commercial clients throughout Ireland. She has being awarded five gold medals for her work, two best in show awards, and an Award of Merit for a Private Garden from the ALCI.
Day 1
Celebrity talks will be held in the 19th century music room.
12:00pm Eamon Dunphy and Ivan Yates
2:00pm Fiann ó Nuactáin
4:00pm Jane McCorkell
Day 2
The second day of the festival will have craft and food stalls, a petting farm and live music.
Celebrity talks will be hosted in the 19th century music room.
11:00am Fiann ó Nuactáin
12:30pm Trevor Sargent
2:00pm Helen Dillon
4:00pm Gerry Daly
5:30pm Denise Dunne
Day 3
10:00am Diarmuid Gavin will host a champagne breakfast in Christ Church Cathedral Deanery.
1:00pm Celebrity talks with Diarmuid Gavin will be hosted in St. Werburgh’s Church.
The Dublin Garden Festival promises to be a memorable day out for all of the family. You can expect to be captivated by the magnificent floral arrangements and enthralled by the helpful advice of some of Ireland’s most renowned experts in horticultural knowledge. As well as enjoying the tantalizing taste of mouth watering gourmet food. So be sure to book your tickets for this rewarding and interesting event!
