Ballynahinch Castle Hotel and Gardens: Ballinafad,
Ballynahinch, County Galway, Republic of Ireland, Tel: +353 95 31006.
- Ballynahinch Castle, over 200 years old and offering
one of Connemara's oldest gardens, is now a 4 star luxury hotel. The 450
acre estate offers lovely riverside and lake walks in gardens in a
magnificent setting above the Ballynahinch River, with the Twelve Bens
in the distance.
Brigit's Garden (Gairdín Bhríde): Pollagh,
Roscahill, County Galway, Republic of Ireland, Tel: +353 91 550905.
- This unique garden, set within 11 acres of woodland
and meadows, consists of 4 gardens, each representing one of the Celtic festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasa,
a seaonsal cycle that mirrors the cycle of life. These gardens, with
many interesting structural elements (including the largest sundial in
Ireland), were designed to reflect the
West of Ireland landscape and managed to encourage biodiversity.
Cashel House Hotel and Gardens: Cashel Bay,
Connemara, County Galway, Republic of Ireland, Tel: +353 95 31001.
- Winner of the National Garden Award, these gardens
showcase exotic and exquisite flowering shrubs (many imported from Tibet) including rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and the rare beautiful magnolias.
There is also an organic herb garden which uses seaweed from the
beach as fertilizer.
Errislannan Manor Garden:
Clifden, County Galway,
Republic of Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)95 21133
- This private home, is a Connemara pony stud and riding centre a member of the
Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland Irish gardens. From the daffodils of
April, through the bluebells of May, the spring camelias, azaleas, rhododendrons and the other flowering shurbs,
the colorful herbaceous border of summer, the orange mombretia in
August, and the hydrangeas in the fall, this garden never fails to
delight.
Kylemore Abbey and Walled Gardens: Kylemore, Connemara, County Galway, Republic of Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)95 41146.
- Purchased by the Irish Benedictine nuns in the 1920s, this beautiful and
romantic castle with 10,000 acres of grounds showcases a remarkable 6 acre Victorian
Walled Garden built in 1860s and 1870s and restored in the late 1990s. Features
include 2 restored glasshouses and
a vinery, banana trees, vegetables and herbs that are used in the restaurant for lunch, as well as a beautiful array of plants and flowers.
Portumna House and Gardens:
Portumna, County Galway, Republic of Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)90 9741658.
- This semi-fortified historic home has formal
geometrical gardens, a willow maze and a recently restored 17th century
potager walled kitchen garden.
Rosleague Manor and Gardens:
Letterfrack, County Galway, Republic of Ireland, Tel: +353 95 41101.
- Near the ocean's edge, this hotel offers an early 19th century garden with a showy
display of hydrangeas in season and a woodland walk to the ocean.
Woodville House Walled Garden:
Kilchreest, County Galway, Republic of Ireland, Tel:+353 91 840986.
- Home to 2 colorful Galway families, this walled garden is equally colorful with herbaceous borders,
fruit trees, a serene water fountain, a historic Dovecote, a Victorian kitchen garden and a rose garden.
Zetland Country House Hotel and Garden:
Cashel Bay, County Galway, Republic of Ireland, Tel: +353 95 31111.
- This hotel offers an informal country garden set below Cashel Hill and overlooking the sea.