Business Type: Visitor Attraction
Address: Castle Avenue, Lismore, Co Waterford.
Phone: +353 (0)58 54061
Fax: +353 (0)58 54896
Email: gardens@lismorecastle.com
Website: www.lismorecastlegardens.com
Opening Hours: 17 March - 30 September: Monday to Sunday 11am - 4.45pm (latest admission 4pm)

The historic gardens at Lismore Castle are divided into two very different halves. The Upper Garden is a complete example of the 17th century walled garden first constructed here by Richard Boyle, the 1st Earl of Cork, in about 1605. The outer walls and terraces remain and the plantings have changed to match the tastes of those living within the Castle. The Lower Garden was mostly made in the 19th century for the 6th Duke of Devonshire, Joseph Paxton's patron. This garden is informal with shrubs, trees and lawns. The stately Yew Avenue is where Edmund Spencer is said to have written the Faerie Queen. This avenue is much older than the garden itself, probably 17th century.

Camellias are the first heralds of spring, and are followed closely by the Magnolias and spring flowering bulbs. A fine collection of Rhododendrons maintain the interest through late spring and early summer before giving way to the flowering herbaceous borders. The upper garden is home to herbaceous borders and a working kitchen garden providing vegetables, fruit and herbs for the Castle kitchens. Vegetable beds are edged with roses and grass paths adding a decorative interest to the functional space. Key flowers and plants in the gardens are identified by hanging letters and the corresponding information is on the back of this leaflet.

Since 1999, several pieces of contemporary sculpture have been installed in the gardens including one by Anthony Gormley, best known for Angel of the North which overlooks the motorway at Gateshead in the north of England.

Visitors can also visit the contemporary art gallery, Lismore Castle Arts, as part of their admission, which features exhibitions by some of the world’s leading artists.

NB - the Castle itself remains a private home and is not open to visitors.