Tag: steel

kilkenny Castle Rose Garden & Park

Post author By Peter Donegan
Post date October 28, 2009
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On Monday the 26th October 2009 I went to visit Kilkenny Castle Rose Park & Gardens. I went under the recommendation of my good friend Pat Fitzgerald.

As I walked up towards the castle I was bemused at the amount of brand spanking smooth polished granite that adorned such a vast are[n]a, complete with mirror polished steel against this ancient backdrop of the beautiful castle…. who on Gods earth decided on this…? such a shame. And to those who did this… you should be ashamed.

That out of my system. It was the gardens I went to see.Admission is free. The grounds are very well maintained.The sight of new tree planting schemes is to be applauded and admired. I really do love this park… The hills of grass so high in parts that one couldn’t see over the far side. The wooded areas were left with stacks of wood [brilliant for wildlife]underneath the canopy of wooded leaf areas. The leaves adorned some of the footpaths but not all. There are so many options when walking here… the poem ‘the road less travelled’ really does come to mind. The walkway by the waters edge is superb, so romantic, such a break from the norm…

It really is so very well done. The grounds staff deserve a standing ovation. I could have stayed here all day….

The bad bit…. the rose garden was closed off. I attempted to sneak in under the advice of two local ladies…. but I got caught and was chucked out 😉 So this now becomes a review of Kilkenny Castle Park…

Go there and visit. Take your time. Bring the kids. Bring the dog. Watch out for the such beautiful secluded seating areas. Take your time and enjoy. This is up there with the best of them.

…

More images of kilkenny castle gardens can be viewed here

Tags beautiful, business, garden, Granite, historic, home, kilkenny, kilkenny castle, kilkenny castle gardens, landscape, mature, nature, outdoors, parks, Pat Fitzgerald, people, public, rating=4, review, Rose garden, rose gardens, steel, tourism, tourist, tree, visit, wood

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supporting plants…

looking for a little alternative other than the sheet of trellice that keeps rotting away behind that overgrown climber? maybe a more presentable way to support that new tree you just bought? maybe a new way to divide that strip between you and the neighbours….. ?

Take a look and see what you think….

tree-supports post, cross bar, buckle and self tie strap

partition climbing frames for climbing plants fixtures

tree tripple staking and rope support tying

tree tripple staking and rope support knot

partition climbing frames for climbing plants

Tags climbers, different, gardening, gardens, landscape, outdoors, People, Business, plant, post, rope, small gardens, steel, strap, support, timber, training, tree, wire

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interview with a blacksmith

Post author By Peter Donegan
Post date June 16, 2009
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Trekking through The Craft Council of Irelands section within Bloom this year I met blacksmiths Michael Budd and Stephen Quinn.

I did do a live stream interview but it didn’t work out as well as I thought. Still blown away by the old techniques that [still] exist… I returned the following day.

I’m so glad I took the time to talk to Michael

Go on get something made…. you know you want to 😆

Irish Artist Blacksmiths Association
Association Bushy Park Ironworks
Unit 22-24 Greenhills Business Park
Tallaght
Co. Dublin
Ireland
tel: 01 4622788

Tags Arts, blacksmith, bloom in the park 2009, crafts council of ireland, dublin, guild of blacksmiths, hobby, irish artists association of blacksmiths, iron monger, lifestyle, metal, michael budd, old techniques, one off, People, Business, Society and Culture, steel, Stephen Quinn

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Bespoke 17th Century Gazebo

Post author By Peter Donegan
Post date July 1, 2008
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brackenstown gardens file - peter donegan landscaping — ...

Recently the gardens of Brackenstown got the ‘peace de resistance’ that [in my heart] it so much deserved. The gazebo was installed 2 weeks ago in the centre of the tranquility garden after almost eight months since it was first considered. The funny thing I suppose was that within three days it was fitted, installed and painted as if it had been there all its life. When it is found difficult to believe that the life of the structure is one of such youth, I suppose it could be said that the job has been done and done extremely well. It is bespoke, the only one in the world and hand made, the old style way.

Credit when taking on a project like this must go primarily to ‘any’ client who has that ‘je ne sais quoi’ and forward vision to trust in a designer to bring something like this to fruition. I shall rephrase, when one does not know what the final outcome will be [obviously] and one has never seen ‘one’ before, it can be, difficult if you chose; only in the sense that if you are a ‘I need to see it first’ kind of person. If not, bespoke features for a garden are one off, special, specific, of true splendour and yours [and yours only].