Klaus Laitenberger is the author of four gardening books: ‘Vegetables for the Irish Garden’, ‘Fruit and Vegetables for the Polytunnel and Greenhouse’ and ‘A Vegetable Grower’s Handbook’ and “The Self-Sufficient Garden”. He works as an Organic Inspector for the Organic Trust Ltd and manages a number of private gardens.

Together with his wife, Joanna, they run a seed company, specialising in the most suited vegetable varieties for the Irish climate as well as the most resistant and delicious ones (Green Vegetable Seeds).

He is contributor to various gardening magazines e.g. The Irish Garden, Irish Independent, Irish Examiner, GIY magazine and Clover. Klaus also works as an organic advisor and runs gardening courses throughout the country.

More information on the courses and seeds can be found on

www.greenvegetableseeds.com

Sunday - 14.00

Kildare-born Colm O’Driscoll is Head Gardener at Lismore Castle Gardens, Co. Waterford.

A graduate of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, he has a diverse horticultural background encompassing landscape, retail, nursery stock, and organic food production.

Colm is a dedicated proponent of organic horticulture and craft gardening, striving to innovate with new plant introductions and sustainable practices.

He regularly contributes to The Irish Garden Magazine and shares his expertise through lectures and workshops.

Paul Smyth, a renowned Irish gardener and horticultural expert! 

With roots in the gardens of Bellefield House in County Offaly, Paul’s journey has taken him across the globe, from the top UK specialist nurseries to plant-hunting expeditions in Vietnam. 

Now back in Ireland, Paul is making waves as Head Gardener at Bellefield House.

Co-author of Gardening Together, and co-host of the DIRT podcast

“A

Karen is a member of the Flower Farmers of Ireland. She is a former Primary School teacher but now she has no time off at all in the summer as she’s busy being a sustainable florist, flower grower and garden designer.

She is passionate about biodiversity and has been planting species rich gardens, in a number of locations, for some year. These have attracted all kinds of wildlife, above and below ground. Native plants, especially self-seeded, are at the core of these gardens.

Karen is the designer behind the Flower Farmer of Ireland Silver Award in Bloom this year and was previously awarded the Gold with Riverlane Nurseries.

She is a member of Blanchardstown Gardening Group, founded by Aoife Munn and Michelle Griffin.

She is currently studying horticulture in the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin.

Saturday - 15:00

Leonie Cornelius is a well-known Irish garden designer and interior architect who also works as a broadcaster.

She has a strong reputation for her award-winning designs and her work has been featured in numerous publications.

She is based in Co. Leitrim, Ireland

The Sustainable Garden

As part of the ClareGalway Garden Festival, we are delighted to welcome Tanguy de Toulgoët, a passionate horticulturist and organic grower. A French national who has made Ireland his home, Tanguy brings a wealth of knowledge, inspiration and continental flair to the world of sustainable gardening.

With over 45  years’ experience in horticulture, Tanguy brings a wealth of practical knowledge and a passion for working in harmony with nature. At Dunmore Country School, he has created a thriving kitchen garden that feeds his family year-round. His methods are deeply rooted in French-style potager gardening, permaculture, and biodiversity-friendly practices, which he tailors to the Irish climate and soil conditions.

His approach focuses on soil health, seasonal growing, companion planting and building ecosystems that attract pollinators and support wildlife. Tanguy will demonstrate how to create and manage a productive and resilient kitchen garden that is beautiful, practical and rich in biodiversity sharing simple, effective ways to grow your own food.

Eanna Ni Lamhna qualified as a scientist in the 1970’s and did her post graduate thesis on the ecology of sand dunes and saltmarshes which was published in the Journal of Life Sciences. She set up the Irish Biological Records Centre in 1974 and is responsible for the original distribution maps of mammal and insects. She lectured postgraduates on sustainability for 20 years in TU Dublin. Her publications include a series of five studies on Irish Air Quality, nine books including Wild Dublin and her most recent – The Great Irish Biodiversity Book.  She was President of An Taisce from 2004 – 2009 and more recently President of the Tree Council of Ireland. She is a judge of Environmental initiatives undertaken by local groups on a county level such as Pride of Place and Love Where You Live. She is a highly respected radio and television broadcaster on environmental issues.  She writes the weekly Eye on Nature column in the Irish Times. She is a Co. Louth woman and has a husband, three children and seven grandchildren. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in Science by the University of Galway in November 2024 – the first Irishwoman to be awarded a D Sc. by that university.

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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.

The Exhibition will be launched at 7pm on Friday the 4th of July by Marek Zemla from the Connaught Bonsai Club

Location - Banquet Hall

Floral Art Competition / Growers Competition / Botanical Photography Competition / Children’s Competition

Sunday – Flower arranging demo

Location – Marque

Exhibition of Irish Lace

This exhibition will display the unique pieces created and hand stitched by Lásadóirí na Coiribe.  Each handmade piece draws its inspiration from the culture, heritage, landscape, flora and fauna of Galway.  Lace requires practice and precision; the result is a unique creation that reflects the artistry and skill of the maker's hands.

Two Antique Irish crochet lace wedding dresses (on loan from The traditional lacemakers of Ireland, Cork) will also be on display, threads of the past intertwined with those of the present.

Lace is delicate but highly decorative and as a group we share, promote and encourage community participation in lacemaking ensuring the continuance of these skills into the future....

Location - Banquet Hall