Gardens

This short tree trail through Ballon Village passes by twelve Irish trees, each denoted with a plaque including willow, wild plum, hawthorn, oak, elder and many more.

An Gairdín Beo is a two-acre community garden in the centre of Carlow Town where people work together and then reap the rewards together. The overall vision of the project is of a space in which diverse people can connect more to nature, to the growing and making of food and to each other. The ethos of the garden is based on an ecological orientation, on valuing diversity, sustainability and indigenous species.

The Barrow Experience is a unique series of ten interconnecting gardens which bring to life the history, folklore and heritage of the beautiful Barrow Valley. It is situated in the grounds of BEAM Services, a training centre for people with intellectual disabilities, on a picturesque site that bounds the canal off the River Barrow.

Borris House, the ancestral home of the McMorrough Kavanaghs, Kings of Leinster, is one of the few Irish estates that can trace its history back to the Royal families of ancient Ireland and the tour covers all aspects of the history of the family and the house, from the original 15th century castle, through its many subsequent changes and alterations, right up to the present day. There are so many things to admire on the tour from the beauty of the Stapleton ceilings to the unique Chapel of St. Moling, as well as a room by room description of the exceptional architecture, antique furniture, porcelain and paintings on display. On view for the first time ever are the recently restored Egyptian watercolours of Lady Harriet Kavanagh and the Borris Lace. In the recently restored Granary visitors can watch a film on the history of the McMorrough Kavanaghs and Borris House, walk around the Lace Garden, visit the restored Victorian laundry and soak in the stunning views of Mount Leinster, the Blackstairs Mountains and Mount Brandon. The Store at Borris House sells local crafts, jewellery, ceramics, leather goods and textiles and is located at the front gate entrance. Check the website for precise opening times. Borris House is the venue for the Borris House Festival of Writing and Ideas, September 18th – 20th.

Burtown House is an early Georgian villa dating from 1710 that is still lived in by the original family. It is an original Quaker house now surrounded by 12 acres of flower, woodland and kitchen gardens with old grass meadows and a sculptor park.

Altamont Gardens are an enchanting blend of formal and informal gardens with riverside walks covering over 40 acres (16 hectares). Lawns bisected by sculpted yews, slope down to a lake surrounded by rare trees and rhododendrons and lead in turn to a very different garden featuring exotic shrubs and trees. A fascinating walk through the Arboretum, Bog Garden and Ice Age Glen with its canopy of ancient oaks and huge stone outcrops leads the visitor to the River Slaney.

If you long for the classic charm of a cottage garden, complete with its ambience, fragrances and all the nostalgic elements, Altamont Plant Sales is your destination. Here, amidst a delightful array of old-fashioned roses, powering delphiniums and vibrant and vibrant peonies, expert guidance awaits.