Elsie Jayne The 41st Burtonport Summer Festival programme included “Seal Watching Trips” to see one of Ireland’s largest seal populations, with Jim Muldowney of Dive Arranmore. Dungloe Bay “The islands and rocks of Dungloe Bay are home to around 300 seals including pups at this time of year”, the programme suggested. I felt compelled to book a place. The weather […]
In the spring of 2007 and the summer of 2008, I was incredibly blessed to work in the gardens of Glenveagh Castle. The gardens and castle are part of Glenveagh National Park, the second largest national park in Ireland. On both occasions I felt I was in horticultural heaven! Last September, I shared my experiences of a visit in The Gardens […]
Cluain na dTor is one of 22 gardens featured in the 2017 Donegal Garden Trail. It is described in The Trail’s brochure as “Donegal’s tropical garden, inspirational and boldly experimental!” Seamus O’Donnell’s garden has been developed over a period of twenty years, and features many unusual plants collected from around the globe. The gardens include an excellent nursery, which hosts […]
Four members of Irish World music band “Kila” (the full band has eight members) braved showers of rain on Thursday to play in the courtyard of Glenveagh Castle as part of The Earagail Arts Festival. I was incredibly blessed to procure a ringside seat among an international audience dressed in raincoats and armed with umbrellas! We were rewarded with […]
I planned to take you to an island this week but the ferry never left the pier due to rain, rain and more rain… Feeling rather downhearted, I pondered on a suitable alternative, and after a trip to the local library followed by a coffee and slice of cake, the sun came out. The Wild Atlantic Way So we are […]
May was a gloriously warm and sunny month here in Donegal. Unfortunately, June did not live up to expectations, and we endured rain, rain, and yet more rain… However, the garden is thriving and there are lots of new blooms to share. Pink Lavatera matches my garden chairs I planted this Lavatera back in 2011, and she has provided delicious, […]
I visited “Bloom” in Dublin’s Phoenix Park in early June this year – a little while after it’s English cousin “Chelsea” inspired millions of horticultural enthusiasts around the globe. A local bus company took myself and a party of keen Donegal gardeners to our Irish floral heaven, and back home again – all in one day. The floral marquee was […]
Floral display outside my favourite restaurant – “Danny Minnie’s” I live in County Donegal, on the north west coast of Ireland, which was recently voted “The Coolest Place on the Planet” by National Geographic Traveller (UK). My village has been participating in Ireland’s national “Tidy Towns” competition for several years. One of our star attractions is our “Bikes in Bloom.” […]
The view across the garden last week The garden is flourishing after a very warm start to the month of May, plus a few much needed downpours in the past fortnight. If this is your first visit to my garden, you will notice that it is devoid of grass, and filled with a number of (mostly) raised beds, planted with trees, shrubs, cottage […]
I share LOTS of self healing tools in my memoir “Watching the Daisies” This is one of my favourites: I ALWAYS begin my day with a colour visualisation; I have done so for many years and I find it helps me stay centred through the good times and the not so good. I begin by closing my eyes and sitting or lying with my spine straight. I […]
Watching the Daisies 