Laois Garden Festival

Polytunnel Course

Learn how to manage your polytunnel intensively and sustainably, with tips on water saving, disease prevention, tomato production, growing peppers, cucumbers, basil, sweet potatoes, sun berries and more.

Price: €63.60
15% discount for attendees during Laois Garden Festival. Please use the special promotional code LGF15% when booking online. Offer applies only to courses on June 6 and June 7, 2025.

Advance booking is essential as places are limited.

Dunmore Country School, Durrow, Co. Laois R32 HC93
dunmorecountryschool.ie
+353 (0)87 125 8002
tanguy@dunmorecountryschool.ie

Grow your own food workshop

One day workshop — learn how to grow food sustainably using simple, no-dig gardening techniques. This method not only improves soil health but also saves time and reduces strain, making it a back-friendly gardening solution. The approach also encourages minimal weeding through the use of mulching techniques and old techniques like coppicing and pollarding.

Price: €127.20
15% discount for attendees during Laois Garden Festival. Please use the special promotional code LGF15% when booking online. Offer applies only to courses on June 6 and June 7, 2025.

Advance booking is essential as places are limited.

Dunmore Country School, Durrow, Co. Laois R32 HC93
dunmorecountryschool.ie
+353 (0)87 125 8002
tanguy@dunmorecountryschool.ie

Summertime flower power
A guided walk ‘n talk with garden owner Mary Keenan

An amazing oasis packed with interesting and unusual plants to lure and inspire both the keen plants person and the garden novice. Colourful herbaceous borders, a large rock garden and a well established collection of trees, shrubs, rhododendrons and deliciously perfumed old style roses. Enjoy the soothing ambience of still ponds and meandering streams. Whether you are a keen gardener, an armchair gardener or a visitor looking for an enjoyable day out, then Gash Gardens is for you.

Price: €10.00 per person

Advance booking is essential as places are limited.

Please note: Garden also open to visit 11am-5pm on Thursday 5th, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th June.

Gash, Castletown, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32 K068
gashgardens.ie
+353 (0)87 273 7883
gashgardens@gmail.com

Music in the Garden

Enjoy a traditional music session with the group Teallach, featuring John Brennan, Joe Brennan, Paul Fox, Colum King and Mary McColgan. Their name means ‘Hearth’ and their music reflects the music of the fireside. Afterwards, owner Hazel Luskin will bring visitors on a tour of the garden exploring her use of self-seeding plants. Music at 3pm.

Price: Admission is free. Donations for the favourite Charity of these gardens, Laois Hospice.

Advance booking is essential as places are limited.

Gortnalee House, Donaghmore, Co. Laois, R32 C8K0
gortnaleegarden.com
hazel.luskin@gmail.com

Floral demonstration using seasonal garden flowers

11am – 5pm: Garden open
2pm – 3pm: Floral demonstration

Price: €10.00 per person

For more information or to make a booking contact: Julie-Anne Kelly at 087 7587178 or email: JulieAnne@thesoulfulgardener.ie or message via Instagram @thesoulfulgardenerlaois

Advance booking is essential as places are limited.

Heywood Demesne, Ballinakill, Co. Laois R32 D2H4
@thesoulfulgardenerlaois
JulieAnne@thesoulfulgardener.ie

Laois Garden Festival

Top gardening speakers, leading plant specialists and suppliers, local food producers, music and entertainment. Speakers include Tom Coward, Gravetye Manor; Colin Jones, Salterbridge House
and Gardens; and John Jones, Master My Garden podcast.

Price: Early bird €8 plus booking fee. €10 on the day. Student: €5 plus booking fee. Children under 12 go FREE.

Spink Community Grounds, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois R32 PW80