Ornamental Garden in Balbriggan, Dublin, Ireland

Details

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  Description

  ***UPDATE*** Please note that we do not have availability in July or August 2026 as we are already hosting Workawayers at these times. We are new to Workaway and have not yet decided whether we will be hosting from September onwards. Thank you for your interest.
  
  When a visitor asked if we’d ever thought of opening the garden to the public, the question sowed the seed of a dream. Following retirement in 2017, construction of hard landscaping and creating exciting new planting schemes commenced. Today, there are over 250 metres of paths, numerous sitting areas, water features and a glasshouse. There's a potting shed and nursery area, home propagation activities. A large project currently in progress is a handcrafted, Victorian-style, three-quarter span, timber glasshouse.
  
  The garden here has become a place of select trees and shrubs, grasses and herbaceous perennials, and some exotic and interesting botanical specimens. Many of the early plant introductions to the garden have matured, and while the range of plants continues to expand, there are always new plants on the wish list. A detailed plant database is currently at over a thousand entries.
  
  We open our private garden to visitors on selected dates over the summer. This year (2026) we will be open on Friday and Saturday from June to August. While we do charge a small entrance fee to cover some of our costs, visitor numbers are impossible to predict, so we just keep working away in the garden and wait for the bell to ring. We are not a business.
  
  There is always much more we would like to do to improve the garden. Hosting is a new venture for us, so we are on a learning curve. Please contact us if you might be interested in giving some of your time and effort in exchange for accommodation and a warm welcome.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance
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  Interests

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Carpentry

  

  Architecture

  

  Music

  

  Photography

  

  Gardening
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Spend time with us, lets get to know about each other ...
  
  Opening our garden to visitors and guests has been a rewarding experience. It's made us realise that a garden is so much more than just a collection of plants and structures. The best part is meeting people, and sharing our love of plants.

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  Help

  What might you be doing here ....gardening, plant care, propagation, weeding, maintenance, garden projects ... it's an endless list! I'll work with you and show you how to do things.
  
  I have spent many years gardening and studied horticulture as a mature student. I have gardening skills to share and am also interested in photography and playing guitar. What do you like to do?

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  You will sleep in a bedroom in our house and you can eat with us. The room has a double bed. We've high speed internet, lots of books, a big kitchen and living area.

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  What else ...

  We are in an excellent location with good access to public transport. A 5 min walk to a bus stop to Dublin, 20 mins walk to train station. And we're only 15km or so from Dublin airport (a bus to ours is regular and runs through the night). And we're 800m from the sea, with lovely coastal walks. There is much to see and to do in the eastern regions of Ireland.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Jeff (10 years)

  A gentle mixed breed terrier and your new best friend (if you give him a treat!)

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