Festina Lente Garden is one of the few surviving restored walled Gardens in Ireland still in use today as it would have been in the late Victorian period. The House and gardens were home to the Plunkett family from 1807 until 1946.
Each generation extended and modified the gardens which now stand at two and a half acres, divided into a Kitchen garden, pool and ornamental garden with the original walls dating back to 1780.The Festina Lente Foundation acquired the lease and commenced the garden restoration programme in line with a Historical Survey founded by the National Heritage Council. The main house and head gardener’s house are now in private ownership. Festina Lente has a Sensory Therapeutic Trail which was developed by the garden staff with the help of winning garden designer Oliver Shurmann.
Festina Lente Gardens is a registered charity, and run many Nature Based Workshops for children, horticutural workshops for adults and run many events on an annual basis. Festina Lente is open to the public 7 days a week and is no charge to enter. Coffee and tea/cakes and sandwhiches are also on sale from the garden shop.Dogs are welcome too….
Free, but donations welcome. Tours €3 per person. Check their website for Children's Easter & Summer camps, events & workshops.
