A Blooming Good Time at the Clare Garden Festival
This past Sunday, we had the pleasure of attending the Clare Garden Festival in beautiful County Clare. The event, which has been running since 2013, is a true celebration of gardening and everything garden-related, a must for any plant lover! Held in a spacious outdoor venue at Ennis showgrounds, the festival had something for everyone, whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting to explore the joys of growing your own plants.
Meet the Organiser: Carmen 
One of the absolute stars behind the scenes at the Clare Garden Festival is the incredible Carmen — the powerhouse organiser who’s been growing this event from the ground up since 2013.
What makes this festival so special? In large part, it’s Carmen’s dedication and clear love for all things gardening. She doesn’t just throw together a list of stallholders and call it a day oh no. Carmen personally handpicks each trader, carefully curating the lineup to ensure that every stall fits the festival’s heart and soul: gardening, nature, and plant-inspired creativity.
Thanks to her meticulous eye, you won’t find random filler stalls or rows of the same old thing. Instead, it’s a refreshing mix of truly passionate makers and growers, and every corner feels like a little discovery waiting to happen. We loved how the whole event flowed, each stall felt like it belonged, and the day had this natural rhythm that made wandering through it all an absolute joy.
Carmen’s passion shines through in every detail, from the warm welcome to the thoughtful layout, and it’s clear she genuinely cares about both the traders and the visitors. It’s no surprise the festival continues to flourish year after year.
“It’s better to have the right type of traders than a full field of the wrong ones.” – Carmen, Event Organiser
A Garden Wonderland 🌸
The outdoor stalls were filled with a stunning range of plants, from everyday garden staples to some beautiful specialist selections. If you’re looking for plants for a shady spot, or perhaps a quirky cactus for your windowsill, the festival had it all. We even spotted some unique plants we’d never seen before — perfect for any avid gardener looking to expand their collection.
The Irish Specialist Nursery Association (ISNA) had many of its members represented, showcasing their beautiful flowers, while other garden centres also joined in with their vibrant displays. From ornamental flowers for your home to garden statues, and even Segway lawnmowers, there was no shortage of garden-themed products to admire. If you’re a flower lover, you were in for a real treat!
Meeting the traders🌷
One of the absolute gems of the day was meeting the lovely Sinéad from Art By Sinéad — and wow, what a talent! Her jewellery pieces are like tiny, wearable gardens — each piece crafted with real flowers grown in her own garden. They were delicate, detailed, and completely enchanting. We couldn’t resist treating ourselves (because how could you not?), and now we’ve got the perfect souvenirs to remember the day by — mini masterpieces that go with everything!
Another special moment was chatting with Joan and her lovely Mam from Buzzing Meadow Farm — two absolute rays of sunshine. Joan and her Mam shared their fascinating insights into the world of beekeeping, which I’ve secretly been obsessed with for a while. It was such a treat to hear their tips and learn more about just how vital bees are to the health of our planet. The passion Joan has for what she does is completely infectious — and yes, we definitely walked away with a few of her adorable beeswax hive candles (because obviously).
Our final trader spotlight of the day goes to the wonderfully talented Shirley from Petals and Paper — and honestly, we were completely blown away by her creativity and passion. 🌿✨
Shirley crafts beautiful handmade paper items using recycled materials like coffee cups, egg cartons, and even animal feed bags — turning the ordinary into something extraordinary. Her eco-friendly approach is not only innovative, it’s downright inspiring.
What really caught our eye were her bespoke wedding invitations. Working closely with each bride and groom, Shirley thoughtfully weaves in the couple’s colours, themes, and personal touches to create invitations that are totally unique and bursting with sentiment. They’re not just invites — they’re keepsakes.
But it doesn’t stop there. Shirley also offers a truly special service where she gathers meaningful elements from the big day — flowers, fabric, or any other memento of the day can be transformed into something truly beautiful — framed artwork, jewellery, or custom mementos for family and friends to treasure forever. How beautiful is that?
We couldn’t help but say, “Where were you when we were getting married?!” What Shirley offers is more than a service — it’s a memory, handcrafted with heart.
These kinds of encounters are what make festivals like Clare Garden Festival so special — full of creativity, passion, and people doing what they truly love.
We also picked up some lovely flowers and bits and pieces for our own garden — the variety and quality were incredible, and it was hard to resist buying more!
The Food, Music & Entertainment 🌭🎶
No festival is complete without food, and there was plenty to choose from! You could enjoy delicious pizzas, BBQ steaks, or grab a classic festival treat like candyfloss and popcorn for the little ones. For a sweet treat, the ice cream van was a hit, and there was even a burger and chip van for those in the mood for something hearty. There was also an amazing healthier option from Happy Food At Home Vegan, who were very busy whipping up their delicious hummus, sandwiches, salads and vegan sausage rolls to hungry festival goers.
Live music filled the air throughout the day, with everything from country guitar to a lively ceili — the perfect soundtrack to a relaxed afternoon in the garden. It was a lovely atmosphere, with families and visitors chatting, browsing, and enjoying the music together. There was also lots of fun activities to keep the children entertained, fun rides and activities, face painting, and even a tent dedicated to free garden related activities for kids, to teach and inspire your “Young Roots” the magic and excitement of growing their own and the joy of the garden.
Inside the Festival: Talks, Workshops, and More 🌱
The festival wasn’t just about shopping; there were also indoor talks and workshops for anyone looking to dive deeper into gardening. We saw a range of topics covered, from growing vegetables to cultivating beautiful flowers for your home. Whether you were a beginner or an experienced gardener, there was something for everyone to learn.
For those who love all things horticulture, there were also stalls offering plants and advice on growing your own vegetables. The variety of stalls inside the venue made it easy to pick up something new for your garden or learn some valuable tips from the experts.
Entry and Parking 🚗
For visitors, entry to the festival is €10, and parking was very convenient, with plenty of spaces available right next to the venue. Though there could have been a bit more signage for parking directions, the location was easy to find, and the parking was hassle-free.
The Clare Garden Festival is truly a lovely event to experience — whether you’re a gardening pro or just love beautiful plants and garden-themed products, it’s the perfect place to spend the day. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with a great mix of traders, activities, and entertainment. If you missed it this year, be sure to mark your calendar for next year — it’s definitely an event you won’t want to miss!
Grainne & Greg