The Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland celebrates its 200th birthday this year with dozens of events, workshops and lectures around the country.
The Society emerged after a group of gardeners got together in a pub in Dublin in 1816 and decided to do something about the dwindling fortunes of gardening. Since then it’s gone from strength to strength and now includes over 1000 members and more than 90 affiliated horticultural, gardening and floral art societies and clubs. Five years ago it also acquired its first garden, RHSI Garden Russborough in Co. Wicklow.
The three-and-a-half acre 18th century walled garden at Russborough, in the grounds of one of Ireland’s finest Palladian mansions, has been completely restored in time for the bicentenary including reinstating original paths, replacing the curved glass in the greenhouse and reinstating a rose garden and centrepiece fountain. Volunteers have also pieced together the original Victorian sweet pea trellis used in the garden. The garden is entirely run by members who learn about horticulture ‘on the job’ while gardening amid Ireland’s great gardening heritage.
A packed bicentenary events programme launches in March with a lecture from Carmel Duigan with the main Bicentenary Gala Celebration in September. For more details visit www.rhsi.ie.