Carlow Garden Festival - Heritage Garden Tours

What to Expect

Now in its twenty-third year, the Carlow Garden Festival is a nine-day celebration of the county’s historic and contemporary gardens. Heritage-focused events include guided tours of private and public estates, specialist talks by gardening experts from Ireland and the UK, and access to historic houses and their grounds. Properties featured include Borris House and Huntington Castle, alongside other heritage gardens and hidden estates. The festival spans the full county, from the Barrow Valley to the Blackstairs foothills.

Good to Know

• Runs 25 July to 2 August 2026; individual event times vary across the nine days.

• Some events are free; ticketed events can be booked in advance via the Carlow Garden Trail website.

• Heritage tours of private gardens not normally open to the public are a highlight of the festival.

• Full programme is published at carlowgardentrail.com as the festival date approaches.

Getting There

Events are spread across County Carlow; a festival map and programme is available from the Carlow Garden Trail website and local tourist offices. Carlow Town is well served by Bus Eireann and Irish Rail from Dublin.