Welcome from all the participants to the 2009 edition of the Donegal Garden Trail. This year we have 23 gardens and we would like to welcome two new gardens, Cille (Carmel and Martin McLaughlin), near Kilcar in south Donegal and at Blackrock (Belinda Mahaffy) near Lifford in the east Donegal. Each year is made more interesting when there are changes in the range of participating gardens, and we are always looking for more. In 2008, a survey of 150 sites in Donegal was carried out for the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage in a process that seeks to foster understanding of the extent of Ireland’s historic gardens, Demesnes and designed landscapes. Some of the Trail gardens are now listed. This growing awareness has also been reflected in an increase of visitor numbers to the county.

The visitor shall see a broad selection of gardens, large and small, old and new, and all successfully coping with the changing climate and the natural topography of this county. We would like you to consider Alexander Pope’s famous maxim, ‘consult the genius of the place...’, and take time to look at each individual space in its own unique location, consider the atmosphere and take time to look, see, smell and breathe. In all the gardens you will find a wonderful variety of planting, horticultural treasures, stone paths and streams, all contributing to create unique pictures and tapestries of colour and texture.

An interest in horticulture, flowers and vegetables brings all kinds of people together, regardless of age or cultural background. Gardening can also be associated with ‘care of the earth’, and this care given freely by gardeners, encourages wildlife and balance in nature’s lifecycles. This gives rise to habitat for birds and insects to flourish.

Please be aware that the Trail gardens are spread throughout the county, so it can take longer than you may think to travel from the east to the west of the county. We have grouped the gardens in this guide-book beginning in the east of the county near Raphoe and Carrigans, then north towards Fanad, the south from Donegal Town towards Killybegs and finally the gardens in the north-west of Donegal. In the centre of the guide book you will find a map showing the locations of all the gardens together with all the nurseries and garden centres where you can buy plants. Next there is an at-a-glance page showing opening times which we hope will assist you make an itinerary.

For your own comfort, always come prepared, especially with good footwear – Donegal can be quite wet.