OPW announces Snowdrop Festival at the beautiful Altamont Gardens during the month of February
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From: Office of Public Works
- Published on: 25 January 2019
- Last updated on: 12 November 2019
The very popular Snowdrop Festival returns to the beautiful Office of Public Works (OPW) gardens at Altamont Gardens in Tullow, Co Carlow next month. This year we are delighted to announce the extension of the Festival for the whole month of February. This is a wonderful opportunity to view this unique collection of over 100 named varieties of snowdrops, started by the late Corona North, to celebrate the forthcoming arrival of spring.
Welcoming this announcement, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD, commented:
"A visit to Altamont Gardens during the Snowdrop Festival is a memorable experience and I am thrilled that the festival has now been extended for the whole month of February. This will allow more visitors to come and view this wonderful display of snowdrops in this exquisite Garden. Where else will you able to view over 100 varieties of snowdrops in such a magnificent setting?"
The gardens cultivated since the 1750s are now entrusted to the very able OPW Head Gardener, Paul Culter, who will be providing tours at 2pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the duration of the Festival.
Known as the romantic garden in Ireland, Altamont is a formal and informal garden located on a 100 acre estate in Kilbride, Tullow, Co Carlow. It’s one of the top Irish gardens and is often referred to as 'the jewel in Ireland’s gardening crown'. It may still be very cold outside but in fact the gardens of Ireland are shaking off the wintry weather and there is no better time of year to catch this fabulous display of snowdrops in these beautiful tranquil gardens.
The gardens open daily from 9am to 4.30pm and are made up of beautiful lawns sloping down to a romantic lake surrounded by rare trees, rhododendrons and shrubs. A fascinating walk through the Arboretum, the Big Garden and the Ice Age Glen leads to the majestic River Slaney with wonderful views of the Blackstairs and Wicklow Mountains.
ENDS
For further information contact OPW Client Services and Communications Unit on 087 947 5552 or at opwcsc@opw.ie
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Notes to the Editor:
Snowdrop Festival: 1 - 28 February 2019
- Tours: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2pm during the Festival
- Location: Altamont Gardens, Kilbride, Tullow, Co Carlow
- Admission: Free. Guided Tours - €3 per person
- Car Parking: Pay and Display €2
- Opening times for the Gardens: 9am - 4.30pm daily
- No Dogs (except Guide Dogs) permitted in the Gardens