An online event brought to you by the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh and the Office of Public Works

In early April the Gardens at Kilmacurragh are marked by the splendour of their two centuries old Rhododendron collection bursting into flower. The significance of these venerable trees is down to the site’s long association with the National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin.  The Acton family, who built Kilmacurragh, established a long and fruitful friendship with David Moore and later his son Sir Frederick Moore, successive curators at Glasnevin.  From the early 1850s, the Moore’s advised the Acton family on gardening matters and suppled the latest introductions of the great plant hunters, particularly from the Himalayan range.  For over 70 years a regular exchange of plants resulted in Kilmacurragh becoming one of the best stocked private gardens in these islands.  Today the collection boasts 180 species of Rhododendron and over 420 varieties. Since taking over the management of the site in 1996, the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland have both restored, and greatly expanded the collection. Rhododendron Week will become an annual event in the calendar, when we can showcase the highlights of the collection and explore the stories behind them.  This year we are delighted to be collaborating with the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group.  We have a series of video stories and online talks to be launched every day of the week, with keynote speakers Dr Matthew Jebb, Director of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Seamus O’Brien, Head Gardener of the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh and Richard Baines, Curator of the Logan Botanic Garden, Scotland.  Wherever you live, we are delighted to be able to bring this event to you all online.

Bookings are now open for the online talks on Eventbrite, while our video stories will be available on our Youtube channel from Monday 12th April.