It is that blooming time again – the 2017 GALWAY GARDEN FESTIVAL takes place THIS WEEKEND, 1st & 2nd/July/2017 at CLAREGALWAY CASTLE.
Gates open at 11am and close at 6pm. We hope that you can join us at some point during this weekend.
- FREE TRAVEL from Ceannt Station on both days, and back from Claregalway Castle, Claregalway – courtesy of CIE.
- FREE EVENTS for all the family! Bands, Side shows, Medieval Armoured Knights in combat, AND MORE …
- FREE PARKING adjacent to Claregalway Castle.
- https://www.facebook.com/Claregalwaycastle/
This will be the 8th year of an unique and charming garden event which has developed a national profile. It will showcase a wonderful gathering of the very best of rare and special plant traders from all over Ireland, present a programme of expert talks, a fine artisan food and crafts arena including the best of ‘Made in Galway’, as well as a host of musical entertainment and open-air performance.
This year’s speakers programme will, on Saturday, feature Jimi Blake who will talk on his famous garden- ‘Hunting Brook through the Seasons’; Dr Marina Levitina – author, film-maker and educator – on ‘Seven Wonders of your Hedgerow’ -about Ireland’s native wild plants and their medicinal and other beneficial qualities; Garden Designer and Columnist, Anne Byrne on ‘Garden Design on the Edge’; Alan Whetham on ‘Getting the best from your Roses’ and Dr Phil Havercroft, Secretary of ISNA, will talk on ‘Garden Perennials – a celebration the less well known’.
On Sunday presentations from – Bloom Gold Winner, Oliver Schurmann of Mount Venus Nursery ‘From Show Gardens to Real Gardens’; Botanic Artist and Author, Jane Stark –‘Heritage Irish Plants – Plandai Oidhreachta’; Pat Dunn, well known gardening correspondent for Tribune newspapers – ‘Garden Planning – helpful hints and chemical free’; Mies Stam of Wildflower Walks Ireland – ‘Getting to know our wildflowers’.
Musical guests include:
- Scullion
- the multi-national folk duo of Four Shillings Short
- St. Patrick’s Brass Band
- Strictly Dixie Trad Jazz Band
- Nuada and award-winning singer-songwriter Roesy
- Coole music orchestra & University Hospital Choir.
The festival will feature real fights between Knights in Armour from Medieval Armed Combat Ireland; Fanzini Brother Circuss will delight with their new show; and Youth Ballet West will awe crowds with classical dance, while Your Mans Puppets will entertain children of all ages.
A range of freshly cooked foods, handmade crafts and assorted wares are available as part of an artisanal market. The Claregalway Botanical Art Expo is a well-established attraction at the festival, and many of the paintings on exhibition are for sale, along with limited edition prints, and cards. Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop will be there with a wide range of books – horticultural and beyond.
But, if you cannot make the Garden Festival this Saturday or Sunday, all is not lost! Here are some of our upcoming events that will brighten up your day.
