MEMBERS AREA

WHO WE ARE

The Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland (RHSI), founded in 1816, is a charity, dedicated to promoting and improving the knowledge, skill and practice of horticulture, arboriculture and floral art while encouraging respect for the environment and creating a sense of community amongst our members. The vision of the RHSI is to foster and develop an appreciation and love of gardening in all its forms and thereby enrich the beauty and sustainability of our environment and national heritage. The RHSI is run by its members on a voluntary basis with membership spread throughout the island of Ireland.

Membership of the RHSI offers anyone with an interest in gardens, gardening and plants year-round access to a community, expert knowledge through our journal and a range of experiences, including free or reduced entry to almost 50 prestigious Partner Gardens, monthly Zoom talks and regular news bulletins.

Over 90 horticultural, gardening and floral art societies and clubs, listed here, are affiliated to the Society.

The RHSI is, with the help of a team of volunteers, restoring the 3.5 acre walled garden at Russborough House, Blessington, Co Wicklow.

The administrative headquarters of the RHSI are at Laurelmere Cottage, Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, where another team of volunteers are creating a woodland garden.

The RHSI is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The members of the Board of Directors are: Peter Harrison (President), Brenda Branigan, Gillian Davidson (Secretary), Hester Forde, Philip Hollwey (Chair), Noreen Keane, Margaret Masterson, Kathleen Moloney, Margie Phillips and Susan Loughnane.

Constitution of RHSI (updated June 2017)

RHSI Privacy Policy

RHSI - 2021 Accounts final

The RHSI began with a meeting held on 30 September 1816 at the Rose Tavern, Donnybrook, Dublin. A group of estate gardeners met to drink beer and to worry about “the art of gardening falling away and rapidly declining”. Resolving to exchange expertise and new ideas, these men (they were all men) set up the Horticultural Society of Ireland for gardeners who had served their time and were ‘of good moral conduct’. The RHSI was distinguished throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for its social cachet and it focused on Shows and Exhibitions. The modern RHSI, a mixture of amateur and professional gardeners, continues to be committed to education.

The RHSI Journal is posted to members 2 times a year. The summer issue comes out in May. We have an November issue closes out the season. We always welcome members’ contributions. Alternatively, if you have a horticultural story you think we should follow, please contact the Journal team through the RHSI office. Queries about copy dates and guidance on the structure of proposed articles can also be answered by the RHSI office. The Journal is written, proof read and prepared for mailing entirely by RHSI volunteers.

The RHSI Journal is free to members. But if you know of someone living overseas who would like to be kept up to date on Irish horticultural matters or someone who is too frail to be able to attend the lectures and garden visits they once enjoyed, the Journal delivered to their door might fill a gap. An annual subscriptionto the RHSI Journal costs €25 (including packing and postage).  Please contact the RHSI office on 01 4937154 or email info@rhsi.ie to place your order

Diarmuid Gavin is the Society’s patron.  Diarmuid studied amenity horticulture at the Botanic Garden in Glasnevin. In 2007, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Art from Nottingham Trent University in recognition of his contribution to garden design. Following this he established his own garden design and studio consultancy, Diarmuid Gavin Designs which boasts clienteles throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.

After twice winning the Royal Dublin Society Gold medal for garden design during the nineties, he displayed at the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in 1995 and 1996.  His modern vibrant city garden in 1996 caused quite a stir and led to a career in television where he developed a unique style in contemporary garden design. Since then, Diarmuid has created nine gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show, including an instillation inspired by the drawings and humour of British iconoclast Heath Robinson.  ​​

Diarmuid works with the RHSI to promote sustainable gardening and a vibrant future for Irish horticulture.

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Forthcoming Events

Day Tour to Altamont Garden, Co Carlow

Saturday 09 February, 2019

Floral Art demonstration by Suzanne Cray

Wednesday 20 February, 2019

Airfield Estate Gardens

Ardan Garden

Ballintubbert Gardens and House

Ballycommane Garden

Ballyedmond Castle Garden

Ballymaloe Cookery School

Ballyrobert Gardens

Bantry House and Garden

Belvedere House Gardens & Park

Benvarden Garden

Birr Castle Demesne

Blarney Castle and Gardens

Burtown House and Gardens

Colclough Walled Garden

Collon House

Coolaught Walled Garden

Coolwater Garden

Dawros Gallery & Garden

Dower House

Dromana House and Gardens

Festina Lente

Fota House – Victorian Working Garden

Gash Gardens

Glenarm Castle Walled Garden

Glenavon Japanese Garden

Hester Forde Garden – ‘Coosheen Garden’

Hunting Brook Gardens

Irish National Stud and Gardens – The Japanese Gardens and St. Fiachra’s Garden

Johnstown Castle, Estate, Museum and Gardens

June Blake’s Garden

Kilfane Glen and Waterfall

Kilgar Gardens

Killruddery House and Gardens

Killyreagh Garden

Kilmokea Country Manor and Gardens

Kilravock Garden

Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden

Lodge Park Walled Garden

Loughcrew Gardens

Medina

Mount Stewart House and Gardens

Mount Usher Gardens

Oakfield Park

Old Deanery Garden

Patthana Garden

Rothe House Museum and Garden

Rowallane Garden

Salthill Garden

Seaforde Gardens

Seanabea Cottage

Springhill

Strokestown Park Gardens

Tourin House & Gardens

Tullynally Castle Gardens

Tyrrelstown House Garden

Woodville Walled Garden

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