Clare Garden Festival was founded in 2013 and its main aim still is to-date to bring Garden Expertise from the whole county and the whole country to Clare showcasing their experience in an accessible manner in the indoor arena of the festival as part of our Garden, Plant, Craft and Food fair.
We have some firm favourites that we bring back year after year; and in addition we invite other experts to join us covering all areas of Gardening and beyond for Beginners and Experienced Gardeners.
We want to offer all talks in a hands-on manner and have great feedback for our demonstrations also.
We hope you enjoy this years talks & demonstrations!
Email info@claregardenfestival.com to book.
1, FROM FIELD TO GARDEN with Jim Cronin
In this Masterclass, Jim Cronin will be looking in detail at turning a new (grass) plot into a garden and the methods involved in doing so.
This information-packed course is suitable for complete beginners and more seasoned gardeners and is of interest also to those who do not (yet) have a
polytunnel or glasshouse. Jim promises that 'going organic' is much easier and more rewarding than you might think!
Pre-pay €25 per adult (including admission)
or pay on the day €20 at class room (plus €9 admission at gate).
2, Development and History of Caherbridge Garden with Carl Wright
In this lecture, Carl Wright will be describing and showing the development and history of his Caherbridge Garden in North Clare. Created on what was once dense hazel and blackthorn woodland, Carl has created a unique, stunning 2 acre horticultural paradise which has been described as one of the 7 most creative gardens in Europe.
Pre-pay €15 per adult (including admission)
or pay on the day €10 at class room (plus €9 admission at gate).
Limited spaces so please book to avoid disappointment.
See full details in our Masterclasses flye
Overview of our Gardeners and their Focus at Clare Garden Festival - PAGE WILL UPDATE SHORTLY
Jim Cronin - FESTIVAL Focus: Organic Gardening
Jim Cronin has been gardening in Co Clare from his early childhood and is now known to many as a leading national expert in organic horticulture. He is a mine of information and advice on all aspects of growing organically, with a lifetime of experience and a deep love of working in cooperation with nature. Jim is also an advocate of local, sustainable agriculture and was a founding member of the thriving Killaloe Farmers Market. He is running successful courses from his farm both for beginners and comprehensive 9-month educational programmes.
Carl Wright - FESTIVAL Focus: Caher Bridge Garden
update to follow
Sinead Moloney - FESTIVAL Focus: Gardens & Herbs
update to follow
Jason McCormack - FESTIVAL Focus: Food producing trees - Benefactor of our 2026 Programme for Specialist Nurseries
update to follow
Fergal Smith - FESTIVAL Focus: Sustainable Growing
update to follow
Jason Horner - FESTIVAL Focus: Organic Gardening
update to follow
Gert Stam - FESTIVAL Focus: Hardy Herbacious Perennials
Caherhurley Nursery, update to follow
Jo Newton - FESTIVAL Focus: Talks Host & Organic Gardening
For over 25 years Jo has lived in Co. Clare, off the mains grid, on a little oasis of self- planted woodland and orchard, bogland and wild riverside, alongside productive organic gardens. This is all managed as sustainably as possible. For 20 of these years she worked with the Irish Seed Savers, co-ordinating the growing, harvesting, threshing and saving of seed of over 200 different crops of vegetable, grain and flowers each and every year. The best way of showing a self-sustaining lifestyle is to live it, leaving biodiversity, natural beauty and abundance for our descendants. Since 2022, Jo has been exploring new and exciting gardening paths.
Vick Ind - FESTIVAL Focus: Ornamentals - Benefactor of our 2025 Programme for Specialist Nurseries
Based in Co Waterford, Vick runs Individual Plants nursery. She takes pride in propagating all her stock on-site from seed which she sources from responsible collectors around the globe, or cuttings taken from her own stock plants (or generous donors). She grows peat-free, using organic principles to produce well grown, resilient and healthy plants. She specialises in quirky, rare and unusual, drought tolerant, med-climate species but is building and diversifying her plant selection all the time. More info about Vick and Individual Plants Nursery, here.