A Garden Four Decades in the Making

Designed in the early 1980s by Lavone Dickensheets Andrews, a prominent US Architect and Fellow of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, this exquisite garden offers a haven of peace and tranquillity for residents and guests alike. Working in collaboration with Shannon Development, a state agency responsible for the generation of tourism and industry in the region, Lavone meticulously restored and refurbished the Castle and grounds, officially opening them to the public in 1985.

The garden you see today is much as it was then, retaining the original tower, perimeter stone walls and beech hedging (Fagus sylvatica). In the upper terrace, all the original ericaceous plants still remain — Pieris, Desfontainia spinosa, Rhododendron species, Camellia, Magnolia stellata and Fothergilla major — while below, the six lime trees (Tilia cordata) and the formal Buxus hedging (Buxus sempervirens) complete a planting scheme that has endured largely unchanged for four decades.

The garden rewards visitors in every season — from the spectacle of Magnolia and Rhododendron in full spring bloom to the rich amber tones of the beech hedging come autumn. Accessible exclusively to banquet guests, it offers a memorable moment of calm before or after your evening — a remarkable living legacy to discover at your leisure.