Public Gardens

Gardens open to the Public in Offaly

The Offaly County Council Website lists the following gardens:

Birr Castle Gardens, Birr Town.  These gardens have a rich history attached to them. They were originally landscaped around the lake in the 18th century by Sir William Parsons, and over the generations of the Parsons family the Demesne has increased in beauty and interest. It now has plant material collected and subscribed for by 3 generations of the Earls of Rosse, as well as some of the most famous plant hunters past and present. It was the first garden in Ireland to receive specimens of Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood) after its discovery in China in 1945.   The garden comes alive in spring with spring flowering bulbs and a vast Magnolia collection. For further details see  Birr Castle Gardens and opening hours.

Fancroft Mill and Gardens, near Roscrea The Gardens at Fancroft were created in the 1990s by previous owner Angela Jupe. They cover 1.5 hectares and feature both structured and informal areas, herbaceous borders, woodland, fruit paddocks and a kitchen garden in addition to three unique garden houses. Streams, wells and  natural springs are integral to this site and as a result the hypnotic sound of running  water and the rhythmic revolving of the mill wheel are the background sound track to your visit to Fancroft. See www.fancroft.ie

Bellefield Gardens near Shinrone  'The walled gardens are built of local Tipperary sandstone with brick along the south-west facing warm wall. No sign of the original glasshouse remained so an old style Victorian glasshouse, using salvaged materials was constructed in 2008. A fantastical folly surrounded by a fernery was built in 2007 and it forms the focal point of the garden. 

Woodland Cottage near Birr, Woodland Cottage Garden is a member of the Lough Derg Garden Trail. Located in Birr, County Offaly, the garden has been evolving over the past 30 years and consists of three distinctive areas. To the front of the house is the main lawn, which is flanked by a large mixed herbaceous border on one side. A hidden path leads down to the new rose garden. Here visitors can admire the many circular shapes of the borders, reflection pond and pergola.