Abbey Sense Garden: Dove House, Abbeyleix, Co.
Laois, Republic Of Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)57 8731325.
- The Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary with a team
of people with disabilities created this garden celebrating the five senses.
Vibrant planting schemes stimulate the sense of sight, while hearing is
reached through wind chimes and a humming stone. Strongly scented plants
and those with interesting textures can be touched and smelled.
Mature lime trees, a rose-covered
pergola, a fernery, a
hornbeam maze and a long herbaceous border complete this special place.
Castle Durrow: Durrow, Co. Laois, Republic of Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)57 8736555.
- 30 acres of terraced gardens and parkland surround this magnificent house.
Of special note are the walled organic garden,
perennial borders, an 18th century pleasure garden of conifers, a woodland walk, Shelly’s “Italian Garden” with formal
flower beds, and a path along the river joining the “Leafy Loops,” a
series of walks through Durrow’s scenic countryside.
Emo Court:
Emo, Co. Laois, Republic of Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)57 8626573.
- Situated in the second largest walled park in Europe, this
neo-classical style house is encompassed by beautiful gardens and parkland
laid out in the 18th century with formal lawns, a lake and woodland walks.
Features include longest avenue of Wellingtonia in Ireland, a wooded area called the Clucker
with azaleas and
rhododendrons, the Grapery containing unusual trees including
weeping beeches and Corsican pines, trails around the
25-acre ornamental lake, and an
ornamental temple.
Gash Gardens: Gash, Castletown, Co. Laois, Republic Of Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)57 8732247.
- This 4 acre garden created from a paddock features alpines, rhododendrons,
a
laburnum tunnel, herbaceous borders, island beds, a Moon House and a trail along the
River Nore.
Heywood Gardens: Heywood Community School, Ballinakill, Co. Laois, Republic of Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)56 7721450.
- The formal gardens were designed by the famous architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens and probably landscaped by Gertrude Jekyl.
Composed of four elements linked by a terrace, the gardens are
currently undergoing an extensive replanting program.