Claregalway Castle welcomes all to the annual Galway Garden Festival on Saturday and Sunday 5th -6th July from 11 to 6pm.
This unique and charming event has something for all. A wonderful gathering of Ireland’s best rare and special plant traders, expert speakers, artisan food and craft producers, as well as a host of musical entertainment and open-air performance.
This year they welcome many old and new contributors. The Galway Garden and Flower Club joins the Festival with their Summer Show and will run a series of floral and horticultural competitions (open to all entrants; contact via [email protected] ).
The Corrib Lacemakers (Lásadóirí na Coiribe ) will have a spectacular exhibition in the Mill building and demonstrations of traditional techniques. Each handmade piece draws its inspiration from the culture, heritage, landscape, flora and fauna of Galway.
The Irish Botanic Artists association will feature many new and established names. Enjoy the timeless beauty and ancient art of miniature trees with the Connaught Bonsai Club exhibition
Entertainment includes a delightful new show by ‘Yer Mans Puppets’ twice each day (1230 and 1430 ). You can also enjoy the zany performances of Gusto from Fanzini ‘s Circus (1330 and 1530 ). Nemo the Magician will be up to his usual tricks throughout the weekend.
Music programme includes the Silver Moon Quintet, Galway’s much loved St Patrick’s Brass Band, the Galway Baytones, the Claregalway Community Choir and the Pocket Jazz Orchestra.
The Botanic Art Exhibition is a well-established attraction at the festival featuring the work of many of Irelands best known Artists; many of the paintings are for sale, along with limited edition prints. This exhibition will be launched at 7pm on Friday, July 5 by Dr Jennie Beale, Founder and Director of Brigit’s Garden.
Food and Craft of the highest quality are a major part of this eclectic Festival. Freshly cooked foods will be available from Handsome Burger, Bartollini Pizza, Steak and Fire Street Food, and more. Handmade crafts and Artisan foods are available and include the best of Galway County Councils ‘Made in Galway’ group.
Guest speakers on Saturday will include:
1200 Klaus Laitenberger, Organic Gardener, Author, Garden restorer and seed supplier —“The Seven most productive and easiest vegetables to grow in a small space”
1300 Lorraine Holland representing the Flower Farmers of Ireland group —“Irish grown flowers – a fitting tribute”.
1400 Colm O’Driscoll, Head Gardener at Lismore Castle – “Irelands oldest, continually cultivated Garden and the Art of Harmony ”
1500 Eanna Ni Lamhna. Broadcaster and Journalist, “Importance of Gardens for Biodiversity and Wildlife”.
On Sunday –
1200 Paul Smyth Award winning Plantsman and Head Gardener — “A bucket full of Bellefield; Seasonal highlights and the story so far at Bellefield RHSI”
1300 Leonie Cornelius, award winning Garden Designer, Architect and Broadcaster – “Garden Design, creating design visions and other stories”.
1400 Tanguy de Toulgoet. Dunmore Country School and Gardens, Co Laois — “Manage your sustainable and productive Garden with biodiversity in mind”
1500 Klaus Laitenberger, well-known Organic gardener, author, teacher, garden restorer and seed supplier. — “Tips for Organic Pest and Disease prevention
1530 Kate O’Shaughnessy. Albury Gardens and Design — “Cottage Garden Workshop”
This year sees a very large representation from Ireland’s best plantspeople and will include Boyne Garden (best in show Bloom ), Rare Plants Ireland, Coldblow Nursery, Leaf and Petal, Kilmurray Nursery, Irish Fuchsia, Albury Gardens and Design, Shady Plants, Mulhall Obelisks, Dangan Nurseries, Air Plants, Cottage Garden Plants, Harry White Flowers, Flower Farmers of Ireland and Three Gates Nursery.
The 2025 Galway Garden Festival takes place between 11am and 6pm on Sat/Sunday, July 5th-6 at Claregalway Castle. Entry €15; €10 seniors and students and children under 16 free; gate profits to CBM Ireland (Christian Blind Mission ).
Free parking close-by or use Bus Eireann (www.expressway.ie ) – Routes 52 and 64 run regularly from Galway City. So come to Claregalway for a very special weekend! Special thanks go to Galway County Council, for supporting this event.
A chance to see this life-filled castle
Eamonn O’Donoghue has funded and overseen the restoration of Claregalway Castle for the past quarter century, bringing in some of Europe’s top stonemasons and conservationists to ensure that the castle was returned to its original state. In the process, he had to overcome many obstacles in his mission to ensure that the castle was restored to the style in which it was constructed.
When he acquired the castle in 2000, the building was in danger of collapse. The roof of the castle had been removed in 1653, following the famous Siege of Galway by Cromwellian forces. Mature trees sprang from the upper floors and the stone work was under threat. A major reconstruction programme was drawn up under conservation architect David Johnson, a former inspector of national monuments with The Office of Public Works.
Eamonn never forgot the childhood picnic shared with his brothers and sisters and parents beside the bridge at Claregalway Castle. His father, Tom, a Toomevara man, a great hurler, and a civil engineer with Cork County Council, had a passion for Ireland’s romantic ruins. A photograph was taken of all seven O’Donoghues lined up grinning at the bridge. The family still have it at their Cork home. But Tom’s passion passed on to several of his children. Eamonn studied medicine in Cork, and archaeology under Michael J O’Kelly, the man who brilliantly interpreted the ancient tombs at Newgrange.
Shortly after his appointment as ophthalmic surgeon to the Western Health Board (HSE ), Eamonn set out to find the castle. He had no idea where it was, except that it was near the city. He drove out every approach road to Galway until one evening there it was — a vast crumbling tower, ivy-clad, with ruined buildings within its courtyard, exactly as he remembered it as a child.
And now, a quarter century later, the restoration programme is complete on this important 15th century tower house; one of the largest and most significant tower houses in the west of Ireland. At the Festival, visitors can get a close view of the sympathetic restoration programme carried out by master builder Micheal Herwood from Cloonacauneen and French stonemason Jean Baptise Maduit.
For further info and programme announcements, see www.galwaygardenfestival.com