Peter Donegan, Landscaping Dublin – Parks, Places, Camping

Corkagh Park Demesne, Dublin

It was Sunday last when I visited Corkagh Park Demesne with The [Non] Gardeners Group that I run and if I’m honest, I was very aware that I had passed this park, sited just off the Naas Road Clondalkin, many times and had never popped in. For that alone, my love of the great outdoors and maybe to an extent for the historical gardens I have designed, I most probably deserve a wee kick in the bottom.

Opened to the public in 1986, the 120 hectare Demesne dates back to 1650 with Corkagh House being constructed there between 1702 and 1714. And though the original grounds, would have contained water gardens, rose gardens, walled and kitchen gardens, to name but a few – through its evolution, there of course have been changes.

Of note in the estates cycle is it’s connection to The Titanic and how it did change the course of the estates future. That however and it’s the life story is one far better told by the staff of South Dublin County Council, namely Máire Ní Dhomhnaill, Joe Hickey and David Cotter who were ever so lovely in their welcoming of the garden group.

listen to ‘The Sodshow: Corkagh Park (Part 1/2)’ on Audioboo

With that in mind, Dublin’s garden radio show and podcast, The Sodshow will air a Corkagh Park Special this Friday [part1] 12th October and next Friday [part 2] Corkagh Park Demesne 19th October.

listen to ‘The SodShow: Corkagh Park (Part 2/2)’ on Audioboo

In the meantime, be you a garden designer, a lover of the great outdoors or just looking for a nice spot to bring your picnic for a days outing, a visit there is highly recommended. From the fishing lakes, pet farms and playgrounds – to the history, the rose gardens and nature walks ~ there is literally something there for everyone.

Further info and listen details:

Further information from South Dublin County Council:

Website – Corkagh Park- South Dublin Co Co
Twitter – @SDublinCoCo
Facebook – South Dublin County Coucil
Recommended Reading: The House of Corkagh by Joe Devine

By Peter Donegan|October 10th, 2012|All Posts, Parks, Places, Camping|5 Comments

Lough Derravaragh, Co. Westmeath

Lough Derravaragh or Loch Dairbhreach is pretty much famed for it’s relation to The Children of Lir (Oidheadh Chlainne Lír) old Irish fable where after being turned into swans, the four children of King Lír, not by choice, spent 300 years there.

A little like being able to picture a child inside a giant peach, I find some grown ups will get why I could sit here all day and let my imagination run away with itself. For those who maybe think that sounds a little outlandish, not so far away from Lough Derravaragh lies Lough Ennell and Johnathan Swift Park ~ the spot where Swift first dreamed up Gulliver’s Travels (1726) sitting right by it’s side. A well known refuelling spot for the daydreamers it seems.

Back to the great outdoors and good to know for the tent lovers, my stay by was by way of camping [Lough Derravaragh Camping - phone: 044-9371500]. I chose to pitch my tent right at the back of the lake. All things told there are few things in life more beautiful than watching the sun go down on such a stunning location.

Note to campers – If it’s available, pick the wee pitch by the wee bench underneath the tree. I don’t believe my fresh ground caffeine has ever tasted so good….

Also nearby in the town Multyfarnham is the wonderful 17th Century Estate of Mornington House, home to so very wonderful Anne and Warwick O’Hara. A real must visit if you are in the area. If however you don’t wish to travel that far, at the end of the avenue of Lough Derravaragh Camp site is the Donore Woodland Walk.

On a slight side note, I don’t know whether wee 2 and a half year old Ella understood the story Dad told her of the swans when we saw them. And though, I did change a line or three hither dither, a little of me is hoping she did. One thing is for sure, I know I’ll return there again when she and I are a little taller.

For all of the descriptions I may hold – gardener, horticulturist, landscaper and lover of the great outdoors – Lough Derravaragh quite simply ticks every single box and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

By Peter Donegan|October 8th, 2012|All Posts, Parks, Places, Camping|0 Comments

Albert College Park, Dublin

I was in Albert College Park last weekend, for my first time. If ever embarrassment was warranted in my very photosynthetic world, this was the case for it, for unknowns maybe, some moons ago, 14 years approx of them, I was responsible for the grounds of Dublin City University. And, should gardens be houses, these two would be a semi-detatched. Right, next door to each other.

As parks go and at first glance, the grounds show remnants of estate like appearance with olde entrance steps and piers; tree lines, pines, stalwart in pairs and in rows and the railing entrance almost a little esque of St. Stephens Green. Far more embarrassing than never being there before ? Knowing Its history. I refer of course to 1927.

1838 Albert College began as ‘The Glasnevin Institution’, based at Cuilίn House and became known as ‘The Model Farm’ for agricultural teaching.
1853 After a visit by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s consort it was called the Albert College.
1900 (c), it was a national centre of excellence in agricultural education, the ‘Albert National Training Institution’.
1926 (c) it was an important centre of University College Dublin (UCD).
1927 (c) Professor Paul A. Murphy put the Albert on the world map when he discovered the cause of the potato famine, the potato blight fungus. The Albert was the training and research centre for horticulture, plant pathology, plant breeding, animal breeding and botany in Ireland. Cuilίn House was the residence of the College’s Director.
1978 UCD departed the Albert for the new Belfield campus and Dublin Corporation developed The Albert into Hampstead Park with new planting and recreational grounds.

It’s a little War Memorial Park versus The Phoenix Park, in the over shadowing sense, but with that also comes its upsides. I walked there with Ella and my good friend Blaithín. Botanical eloquence, in appearance, it may not be, but serenity it certainly is.

As I walked with the parambulator, Blaithín quized my botanical latin versus what was noted on the plaques, which she then translated into Irish. And a little like being on Inis Mór and being more Irish, I did feel more at ease knowing the who’s who of Irish horticulture had been here at some point.

On our way round, we got dragged into a tug o’ war family games day that just happened to be taking place. My manly strength aside and far, far more noticeable was the sound of laughter from the many and varying facets of the park. Now that, is what makes green spaces the stuff of legends.

Joggers, kick abouts, play areas and sports pitches noted; as a space outside I love this place. It’s subtle, like meeting Ronnie Wood and him not picking a guitar up, just in case you might think of him a show off ; In reality, we know, I and he. The history is just too much.

By Peter Donegan|June 11th, 2012|All Posts, Parks, Places, Camping|3 Comments

Garden Group Tour at Rathbeggan Lakes

Sunday 5th February saw year 3 kick off for Peter Donegan’s Garden Group with our first garden tour outing of 2012.

The destination was Rathbeggan Lakes, Dunshaughlin in County Meath.

Rathbeggan Lakes and Dave Robinson ~~will be~~ was the guests on ~~this weeks~~ SodShow – Dublin’s only Garden Radio Show. February 10th 2012

Head Honcho, Dave Robinson and his team were nothing but absolutely brilliant, inspirational and genuine lovely people and from the bottom of my heart a huge thank you to all who made the day great for us. To those who came along on the day, you are all very simply lovely people.

Fact: Did you know the compostable toilet at Rathbeggan Lakes [photgraphed below] was officially opened by Mary Robinson ?

For the great outdoors enthusiast, the gardener or the horticulturist no matter the age or level of experience Rathbeggan has something for everyone. I’m looking forward to this Friday’s garden radio show already