23 October 2015
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
The West Cork Garden Trail, in association with The Irish Garden/Garden.ie, is hosting the first ever Garden Trails of Ireland conference in Baltimore, Co Cork this coming Saturday.
Mayor of County Cork, Cllr John Paul O’Shea (pictured above), in a welcome message to the conference delegates said, “Irish garden trails are among the best in the world and yet are an under-realised tourism attraction with substantial economic potential. I am delighted to welcome so many garden trail members from all over Ireland to Baltimore on the 24th October to begin a process of collaboration and planning to promote Irish gardens nationally and internationally.”
Gerry Daly, Ireland’s best known gardener and publisher of garden magazine, The Irish Garden, is to chair the conference which will include sessions on working with Fáilte Ireland, good models for promoting the garden sector and working groups to establish priorities for an all-Ireland body to represent and promote Irish gardens.
Sunday Times gardening columnist and author of the acclaimed new book ‘The Irish Garden’, Jane Powers, will be among the speakers.
Mr Tim Lucey, Chief Executive of Cork County Council, expressing his support for the conference said, “This is an exciting initiative which aims to consolidate and build on the kaleidoscope of tourist attractions and activities which Irish gardens offer. The conference has the potential to raise awareness of Irish garden trails and will complement the other key attractions in the Cork region and along the Wild Atlantic Way.
