Spink Community Sports ground will be the place to be on Sunday, June 11, as the second Laois Garden Festival takes place.
Over 1200 people attended last year’s event and it’s expected to be even bigger this time round. With garden nurseries from all over Ireland present, a very impressive line-up of guest speakers and entertainment for all ages, it promises to be another great day out.
“From top gardening speakers and leading plant specialists, to local food producers and entertainment zone, it’s all here,” says the blurb on their official website.
“There will be between 25 and 30 nursery stands from all over the country,” says Robert Miller, the local man who owns Altamont Plant Sales in Carlow, and is one of the main organisers of the event.
“It’s an opportunity for people to buy plants they wouldn’t normally be able to get and all the local garden centres will be there as well so it’s a one-stop shop for all your gardening needs.
“We were only dipping our toes in it last year and it’s going to be bigger and better this year and again in 2018 hopefully.
“Abbeyleix is very central location, not just to Laois but all over the country,” adds Robert.
Held in the Community Field in Spink space isn’t an issue and with local farmers making nearby fields available for parking, there won’t be a much of a walk to the event itself.
And the list of speakers is incredibly impressive. TV Presenter and Gardening columnist Dermot O’Neill will be joined by Fionnuala Fallon (Author, Organic Flower Farmer and Irish Times Gardening Correspondent), Mairead Lavery (editor of the Irish Country Living supplement in the Farmers Journal) and Dr John McMullen (Garden Historian and Retired Superintendent of Phoenix Park) who will give a talk on the history of the gardens in Emo Court.
All the talks will take place in a large marquee while a jazz band, kids entertainment area and a garden-themed colouring competition (judged by Dermot O’Neill) are all a feature of the day too.
It’s not all garden-related with a number of food exhibitors on site too – including G’s Jams, Paddy O’s Granola, Flavour Safari and Adora Flax.
In Pictures: Check out Alf Harvey’s photos from the 2016 Laois Garden Festival
Organized by Spink GAA, the event is a fundraiser for juvenile community sports facilities.
Entry is €10 for adults, €5 for students and U-12s go free. Group rates are also available. For further information visit laoisgardenfestival.com, their Facebook page or contact Robert Miller on 087 982 2135
