Garden lovers curious to find out more about the best gardens in Ireland should take a break from weeding on Saturday, 17 September 2011 and to head to our medieval riverside town of Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny! As part of our 9th annual Town of Books Festival, garden expert and author of ‘’The 100 Best Gardens InIreland,’’ Shirley Lanigan, will be giving a talk at the Abbey Centre at 1pm. Joining Shirley will be Tidy Towns activist and Kilkenny mayor, David Fitzgerald, who will let gardeners and non- gardeners alike in on the tips and tricks of creating some of Ireland’s most beautiful villages, towns, and cities! He was/is instrumental in bringing Kilkenny City to the top of Ireland's Tidy Towns competition- and they have won Best Large Urban Centre for 2011. Well done! By the way- did you know Graiguenamanagh is featured in a book called The Most Beautiful Villages Of Ireland? Well, we are :-)
| photo by John In Scotland, on Flickr |
David Fitzgerald is very active in Keep Kilkenny Beautiful, and as last year (2010) Tidy Towns finalist Kilkenny City was only pipped to the overall post by a mere 3 points, he knows from experience it is not just about hanging baskets! Their win this year shows that this is the man to listen to if you just need that extra something to up your game that last crucial notch! David Fitzgerald also co-ordinates The Bregagh River biodiversity project, and biodiversity is an increasingly important aspect not just of Tidy Towns, but also home gardening. Gardeners,Tidy Towners, and nature lovers alike are going to find interest in what he has to say.
Shirley Lanigan’s book has garnered high praise. Gerry Daly, editor of Irish Garden magazine, said ‘’You hear her voice, she is like a companion who goes through the garden with you,‘’ and Charlie Wilkins of the Irish Examiner said ‘’ In...The 100 Best Gardens in Ireland, she describes not alone the best properties but flowers by their colour, scent, and the sound they make as they open or drop their petals.’’ She will be bringing this expansive knowledge and sensitivity to all aspects of a garden to her talk in Graiguenamanagh.
And after the talk, there will be a short walk through town on to visit one of Graiguenamanagh’s best gardens where Betty and John Holden grow
beautiful ornamental plants as well as tasty fruit and vegetables alongside the
charming river Duiske.Come join us! Saturday, 17 Sept at 1pm. talks in the Abbey centre, with walk & garden visit to follow; all for just €5
Come see, do, hear, eat, browse, & have fun, all beside the gorgeous river Barrow, at this year's Town of Books Festival!
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The festival is kindly supported by the Kilkenny Leader Partnership, and is part of the Kilkenny Community Festival Network.
