SOLD OUT

BOOKING INFORMATION FOR GALWAY GARDEN VISITS
Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th May 2022.

The RHSI will arrange entry to the gardens and members may either drive themselves or travel on a coach leaving from Dublin (We will supply Eircodes). You will need to book your own hotel/B & B in Clifden for the night of Tuesday 17th. Suggested places to stay include

The Station House (phone 095 21699, mention that you are RHSI as rooms are being held for us)
Foyles Hotel (095 21801)
The Quay House (phone 095 21369)
Lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
Travel options:
Self drive – €30 per person.
Cost for garden entries and gratuities for self-drive
Closing date April 6th

Travel by Coach – €89 per person.
(Please note that given current uncertainties, it may be necessary to have a small surcharge depending on numbers and fuel costs)
Cost for garden entries, gratuities and coach transport
Closing date April 6th

Trip Itinerary
Tuesday 17th May
The coach will leave Foxrock church carpark at 08.30.
Car drivers. Meet at Lorna McMahon’s garden, Ard Carraig, Oranswell, Galway at 11.30am for coffee and tour of her garden, plants for sale. Travel on to Ballinahinch Castle to look at the recently restored walled garden where a sandwich and coffee will be available. Overnight in Clifden.

Wednesday 18th May.
The coach will leave Clifden at 9.00am. Car drivers, meet at Drimbawn House, Tourmakeady at 10.30am for a tour of the garden. Drive back towards Galway for lunch at The Hunstman Pub followed by a visit to Rory Newell’s Forest Moon Nursery. Tour finishes at about 3.30pm.

GALWAY GARDEN VISIT – The Gardens
Ardcarraig. Oranswell, Bushypark, Co Galway. Lorna McMahon’s garden.
Lorna has been developing her garden since the early 1970s, originally surrounding the family home and gradually expanding into adjacent hazel woodland as she made clearings and paths and diverted a stream to create a series of interconnected garden rooms. All the woodlanders are here in abundance, including many special varieties, creating a most atmospheric garden of alternating light and shade within a magical woodland setting. Please note that there are steep slopes and uneven paths in this garden.

Walled Garden at Ballinahinch.
The walled garden has been restored and developed since 2017 with the assistance of garden designer Rachel Lamb. The project included rebuilding the walls which now shelter fruit and vegetables as well as wildflower areas, formal borders and a large new greenhouse.

Drimbawn, Tourmakeady, Co Mayo.
The extensive gardens were originally designed by Ninian Niven and have more recently been restored and developed with the assistance of garden designer Daphne Shackleton. They include woodland gardens, enclosed flower and vegetable gardens, an orchard and a bog garden, all set on sloping grounds with beautiful views over Lough Mask. We will have a tour of the gardens with head gardener Frank Steffen.

Forest Moon Nursery
Still in its infancy, Forest Moon Nursery is run by Rory Newell who recently spoke to the RHSI on Zoom. Rory is particularly interested in propagating exotic shrubs and has travelled on many plant hunting expeditions. His nursery offers some rare and unusual plants from all over the world.