Set within the naturally rich and sustainably managed space of An Gairdín Beo in the centre of Carlow Town, this talk by Colm O’Driscoll invites gardeners to rethink how they work with nature. This session explores how observing and understanding natural systems can lead to healthier, more resilient and more rewarding gardens.
Drawing inspiration from the wild, Colm shares practical approaches to gardening that he has adapted into his own gardening practices. From encouraging beneficial insects to reducing intervention and working with seasonal cycles, Colm demonstrates how small changes can have a lasting impact. He also explores how mimicking natural plant communities can improve soil health, support biodiversity and create more balanced, self-sustaining gardening spaces.
This is a talk that blends knowledge with real-world experience, packed with insights that will inspire you to adopt a nature-first approach to managing your garden, offering practical methods that can be applied in gardens of all sizes.
An Gairdín Beo provides the ideal backdrop for this discussion, offering a living example of how sustainable gardening principles can shape a space that is both productive and in harmony with its surroundings.
About Colm O’Driscoll
Kildare-born Colm O’Driscoll is Head Gardener at Lismore Castle Gardens, Co. Waterford. A graduate of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, he has a diverse horticultural background encompassing landscape, retail, nursery stock and organic food production. Colm is a dedicated proponent of organic horticulture and craft gardening, striving to innovate with new plant introductions and sustainable practices. He regularly contributes to The Irish Garden Magazine and shares his expertise through lectures and workshops.
An Gairdín Beo – The Living Garden
An Gairdín Beo is a living community garden that celebrates sustainability, biodiversity and wellbeing. This two-acre site was made available by the Sisters of Mercy in 1837 to create a green space in the heart of the town. Groups and volunteers have nurtured and developed this site as a sustainable, organic area known as “An Gairdín Beo”. Now, some about two hundred years later it is a vibrant community garden, a place where people meet, get close to nature, grow food together and protect the environment. A core aim is to promote the development of a sustainable, thriving and resilient community.
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