The annual Snowdrop Gala takes place at Ballykealey House, Ballon on Saturday 24th January 2026. This fabulous celebration of snowdrops is in its 15th year and is now firmly established as one of the highlights of the Irish horticultural calendar. The event brings together galanthophiles from across the country and from abroad to celebrate snowdrops and other Spring treasures.
The 2026 programme features lectures by John Massey of the renowned Ashwood Nurseries (UK)’My Garden in Winter’ and Callum Hallstead, Head Gardener at Cambo Garden (Scotland) and curator of the national snowdrop collection ‘Life after Snowdrops – celebrating the Snowdrop at Cambo and knowing how to move on’.
The Friday night, after dinner talk will an entertaining presentation by Dave Hardy of Esker Farm Daffodils. ‘Daffodils, Snowdrops and Beyond. A journey with bulbs at Esker Farm’.
Early bird tickets
Early bird tickets available until January 2nd 2026 at €125. Tickets purchased after January 2nd are €145. (Please note, the final date for ticket sales is January 17th 2026).
BOOK HERE This will direct you to our ticketing partner Digitickets.
If unable to process payment online then contact Alex Lyle on 087 9822135. Tickets include morning and afternoon tea, lunch, lectures and plant sales at Altamont Plants plus a tour of the snowdrop collection at Altamont Gardens.
For further information contact Hester Forde on 086-8654972 or hesterforde@gmail.com
Nurseries attending include Altamont Plants, Cold Blow Nursery (Claire Beumer), Assumpta Broomfield, Rosabell Plant Supports and Esker Farm Daffodils (Dave & Joules Hardy).
The acquisition of a very important English snowdrop collection (Avon Bulbs, Somerset) by Robert Miller of Altamont Plant Sales now makes the overall collection in Altamont the largest in Ireland and one of the biggest in Europe for public viewing. Avon Bulbs was renowned for its specialisation in propagating and supplying unique and hard to find cultivars of snowdrops as well as its programme of breeding and naming new varieties, led by head nurseryman, the late Alan Street. The addition of the Avon Bulbs collection of over 600 different species and cultivars of snowdrops including many rare varieties, significantly bolsters the existing impressive snowdrop collection at Altamont Plants and Garden. This is an opportunity to buy rare and other spring flowering perennials from these specialist nurseries.
Snowdrop Gala 2026 – Celebrating the Snowdrop and other Spring Treasures Gala Itinerary
Morning Venue
Bally Kealey Manor House
Rosslare Road, Ballykealey,
Ballon, Co Carlow R93 A9K1
+353 (0)59 915 9288
8:45 – 9:45 Registration: Tea /coffee/scones (Please arrive early as there won’t be a second tea break)
10:00–11:00 Callum Halstead, Cambo Gardens ‘Life after Snowdrops- Celebrating the Snowdrop at Cambo and knowing how to move on’
11:00 – 11:15 Morning Break / Ticket sales
11:20 – 12:20 John Massey, Ashwood Nurseries ‘My Garden in Winter.’
12:20 – 12:40 Draw
12:40 – 13:45 Lunch
Afternoon Venue
Altamont Gardens, Kilbride, Tullow, Co Carlow R93 N882
14:00 – 15:00 Bulb Sale
15:00 – 16:00 Guided tour of garden and snowdrops.
Complimentary tea, coffee and cake will be served from 15:00 – 16:00
For those looking to book accommodation at Ballykealey House then please contact the hotel directly, quoting GALA on 059 9159288.
– Double Rooms €250 includes dinner, B&B
– Single Rooms €150 includes dinner, B&B
Please note – Accommodation at Ballykealey is reserved for Snowdrop Gala ticket holders only. You will need to have booked your Gala Ticket prior to making any hotel room reservation. Those without a Gala Ticket will not be able to reserve a room.
Dave Hardy – Friday Night Lecture (After Dinner)
‘Life at Esker Farm’
Along with his wife Jules, Dave owns and runs the fabulous Esker Farm Daffodils. Dave will take you behind the scenes, discuss the challenges of growing and guide you through the journey from bulb to bloom.
About Callum Halstead
Callum Halstead is Head Gardener at Cambo Gardens. As well as looking after Cambo’s National Collection of snowdrops, he is responsible for the maintenance and ongoing development of Cambo’s woodland plantings.
Callum has drawn inspiration from Dan Pearson’s multi-layered woodland plantings as well as Sarah Price’s approach to naturalistic planting and her use of colour in the garden. Callum’s current garden hero is John Little. Callum studied at Edinburgh Royal Botanics gaining the Elizabeth Hess Scholarship which funded a year-long work placement at Tresco Abbey.
Beryl Mc Naughton (Macs Plant Nursery) was a big influence in his interest in snowdrops and the first snowdrop he bought was Galanthus ‘Merlin’ and the most recent Galanthus ‘Dryad Gold Charm’ Callum’s Lecture ‘Life after Snowdrops – celebrating the snowdrop at Cambo and knowing how to move on’ Cambo, known for its N. American prairie and substantial Oudolf- inspired plantings, is also home to a National Collection of snowdrops. These can be seen in various parts of the garden for nearly 6 months of the year. Callum has cared for the collection since 2021 and has worked to improve the winter garden in which the snowdrops sit in this lecture.
Callum will discuss Cambo’s snowdrops and showcase some of the collections top performers. Using designs recently replanted section of the garden he will also discuss his approach to designing beds that afford the snowdrops their moment in the spotlight while also offering year round seasonal interest after their blooms have faded.
About John Massey
John Massey is a nurseryman, plant breeder, plant collector and above all, a passionate gardener.
John acquired Ashwood in 1967 and with no formal training and with encouragement from his grandfather he became the driving force at Ashwood which is renowned for its specialities. These include hellebores, cyclamen, hepaticas, lewesia, dwarf conifers, salvias, and hydrangeas. In 2025 a planted trial of over 100 Hardy Chrysanthemums was established. The garden at Ashwood was begun after a visit to the late Princess Greta Sturdza’s sensational garden, Le Vasterivial , with his great friend Veronica Cross. Other important influences were Percy Picton and Chistopher Lloyd.
Honours
• 2008 – MBE for services to charity
• 2010 -RHS Victoria Medal of Honour
• 2014 -Kath Dryden Award (for work on Hepaticas)
• 2022 – “My World of Hepaticas” (with Tomoo Mabuchi)
John’s lecture “My Garden in Winter”
John will look at some of his favourite plants for creating winter interest, including cyclamen, hellebores, polypodiums and witch hazels. Also, the pruning techniques of ‘Transparency Pruning ‘trying to turn every shrub, conifer, and tree into a sculpture, but at the same time being respectful of the plants natural habit.
Venue: Ballykealey, Ballon, Leinster, R93 A9K1
Date: 24 January 2026
Start Date: 24 January 2026
Start Time: 12:00 am
End Date: 24 January 2026
End Time: 11:59 pm
Time: 12:00 am - 11:59 pm
Admission:
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