Carlow Garden Festival is back better than ever in 2026 with an amazing line up of speakers: a pick-and-mix week where you can build your own perfect gardening break. We’re joined by Eileen O’Rourke, CEO of Carlow Tourism, to walk through the programme day by day so you know exactly what’s on, where it’s happening, and how to choose the events that match your garden and your curiosity. 

We talk biodiversity and working with nature, from lessons that come straight from the seasons to practical ways of supporting beneficial insects and healthier soil. We also dig into the design side: how to “paint with plants”, how to combine colour and texture for long-lasting borders, and why plants should stay the star of the show even when modern garden features try to steal the spotlight. If you’ve been searching for real-world planting design advice, sustainable gardening ideas, or a gardening event in Ireland that’s genuinely useful, this lineup is built to send you home with plans. 

We also get into the fun bits that make the festival feel like a holiday: evening talks in garden settings, guided tours, great cafés, and a garden-party atmosphere at Altamont. There’s space for specialist interests too, including herbal medicine talks on Irish medicinal plants and hands-on botanical print workshops, plus an honest nod to the “plantaholic” urge we all understand. 

Have a listen, pick your must-see talk, and then subscribe, share the episode with a gardening friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the podcast.

You can get your tickets here: 

https://carlowgardentrail.digitickets.co.uk/tickets

Or phone: 

Phone: 059-9130411

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Until next week  
Happy gardening  
John