Rose helps relaunch Laois Garden Trail

NEWLY crowned Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins was the ideal choice to help relaunch Laois Co Council’s Garden Trail website, at a gathering in spectacular Gash Gardens in Castletown.

The first Laois Rose ever to win the title was positively blooming in pastel pink and white, as she joined garden owners and council officials for the launch on 1 September.

A dazzling dozen gardens around the county are showcased on the website, including famous visitor centres such as Emo Court and Heywood Gardens and smaller attractions that stimulate creativity and imagination.

From the grounds of stately homes to smaller elegant spaces, 12 wonderful gardens are ready to be explored with the help of the website, with a strong emphasis on biodiversity and organic gardening.

Local food advocate and organic gardener Kitty Scully attended the launch together with Laois Co Council chief executive Michael Rainey, cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh, county councillors and garden owners Enda Thompson-Phelan of Clonohill Gardens; Tanguy and Isabell de Toulgoët of Dunmore Country School; host Mary Keenan of Gash Gardens; Hazel Luskin Glennon from Gortnalee Gardens and Jennifer Taggart of Ballintubbert Gardens.

The gorgeous gardens featured on the website are Castle Durrow; Charis Gardens, Clonohill Gardens; Emo Court; Ballintubbert Gardens; Dunmore Country School; Fruitlawn Garden; Gash Gardens; Gortnalee Gardens; Hazelbrook Gardens; Heywood Gardens and Selous Lodge Garden.

Four-acre Gash Gardens was created in the mid-1980s by innovative dairy farmer Noel Keenan, who transformed grazing farmland into a magnificent space, now owned by Ross Doyle and Mary Keenan. Welcoming guests to the launch in her family garden, Mary said that all 12 gardens featured on the website have ‘a unique blend’.

She said: ‘It’s a great privilege that people have their own private space that they are willing to share with people who come to visit Laois and it adds to the whole tourism compliment that is available.

‘The gardens are a tremendous asset, but they are set in a fantastic context. I pay great tribute to the Tidy Towns people throughout all the villages and towns in the county because they set the context for all of the tourism offerings.” Mary also highlighted the work of Laois Co Council to create a ‘Town in a Garden’ in Portlaoise, which has transformed the town into a green urban area that integrates nature into the daily lives of residents.

Laois Co Council chief executive Michael Rainey said: “Everyone is talking about Laois at the minute because of Electric Picnic but this county has so much more to it.

‘One of its hidden gems is the gardens. There are 12 exceptional gardens that form the Laois Garden Trail and we want to promote them.’