Sustainable Kitchen Garden with Tanguy de Toulgoët

As part of the Carlow Garden Festival, Shankill Castle is delighted to welcome Tanguy de Toulgoët, a passionate horticulturist and organic grower. A French national who has made Ireland his home thirty years ago, Tanguy brings a wealth of knowledge, inspiration and continental flair to the world of sustainable gardening.

With over 44 years’ experience in horticulture, Tanguy offers practical insights and a deep passion for working in harmony with nature. At Dunmore Country School, he has created a thriving kitchen garden that feeds his family year-round. His methods are deeply rooted in French-style potager gardening, permaculture and biodiversity-friendly practices, which he tailors to the Irish climate and soil conditions.

His approach focuses on soil health, seasonal growing, companion planting and building ecosystems that attract pollinators and support wildlife. Set in the fitting venue of Shankill Castle, Tanguy will demonstrate how to create and manage a productive and resilient kitchen garden that is beautiful, practical and rich in biodiversity sharing simple, effective ways to grow your own food.

Tanguy de Toulgoët is a French-born horticulturist, educator, and environmental advocate based in Durrow, County Laois With a background in agricultural science and tillage farming, he is the founder of Dunmore Country School, where he specialises in sustainable, no-dig gardening and natural beekeeping, drawing inspiration from traditional French methods and ecological principles. Raised in Paris, Tanguy’s passion for gardening was nurtured during childhood visits to his grandparents’ countryside homes, where he developed a deep appreciation for nature. His great-uncle, a renowned entomologist, further inspired his lifelong interest in biodiversity.

At Dunmore Country School, Tanguy cultivates a rich variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers using traditional techniques alongside innovative approaches drawn from biodynamic, permaculture and syntropic gardening. His work emphasises improving soil health and fertility through the intelligent use of plants.

He also stewards Warré hives to support native Irish black bee populations. Tanguy regularly offers workshops and courses on sustainable gardening and natural beekeeping, sharing his expertise with a wide audience. His work has been featured in various publications, including An Beachaire and the NIHBS journal, and he has been a regular contributor to The Irish Garden magazine since 2014. Through education and hands-on practice, Tanguy continues to promote ecological awareness and inspire a deeper connection to the natural world.

Before or after the Carlow Garden Festival talk, take time to explore the unique charm and layered history of Shankill Castle, one of Ireland’s most atmospheric and intriguing estates. A visit to Shankill Castle offers a great experience combining history, art and nature and is home to the artist and painter Elizabeth Cope. Originally a Butler tower-house, the castle was remodelled in the early 18th century and remains a private residence to this day, offering visitors a rare and authentic glimpse into centuries of Irish life.

Guided house tours on the day will uncover fascinating stories of the families who lived here, the architectural evolution of the building, and the creative spirit that continues to shape Shankill today. You’ll step through elegant drawing rooms, art-filled halls and historic bedrooms that reflect both tradition and contemporary flair.

In the garden, there are remnants of eighteenth-century lime allées, nineteenth-century laurel lawns, some Victorian favourites such as the now gigantic Sequoias, and twentieth century self-sown ash trees. The moated garden, once a rose garden, then forgotten and planted with Sitka spruces, is now
a spring garden. The graveyard and ruined church bloom all year round. The Victorian walled garden has a charming apple tree arch under-planted with red tulips, and some antique goblet-shaped pear trees trained against a mellow brick wall.

And when it’s time to relax, the Coach House Café awaits. Set in Shankill Castle’s historic stable yard, the Coach House Café offers a farm-to-fork experience with light lunches, homemade cakes, artisan coffee and teas in a relaxed, rustic setting with indoor and outdoor seating. Everything is made from scratch with seasonal ingredients grown in their walled garden and organic farm, or sourced from local producers. Artwork by the Irish artist Elizabeth Cope is on display, and a selection of jams and juices is available to purchase.