As a passionate gardener and garden designer, one of the things I most look forward to every May is the Mallow Home and Garden Festival. If you have ever wanted to experience a real garden show here in Ireland, one where you can walk through show gardens, meet expert growers, and come home with plants you will actually use, then this is the one to visit.

Ireland’s Best Gardening Festival Returns to Mallow

Running from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th May 2025 at Cork Racecourse, the Mallow Home and Garden Festival is Ireland’s largest gardening event in the south. It comes at the perfect time, right at the end of the week of the Chelsea Flower Show. After watching Chelsea on television or seeing photos online, most gardeners are itching to get outside and do something in their own gardens. Mallow offers the ideal chance to take that excitement and turn it into something real.

Unlike Chelsea, where everything is glamorous and often out of reach, Mallow is hands-on. You can touch the plants, talk to the growers, take part in free talks and demos, and most importantly, buy plants, tools, and ideas that will work in your own garden straight away.

25 Inspiring Show Gardens to Explore

Created by the talented team at The Pavilion Garden Centre, the 25 show gardens on display offer real-life inspiration for gardeners at every level. These are not just glossy displays. They are filled with practical planting ideas and design tips that will actually work in Irish gardens.

Whether you are dreaming of a complete garden makeover or just looking for a fresh idea to brighten up a corner of your patio, the show gardens at Mallow are the perfect place to get inspired.

Meet the Growers from the Irish Specialist Nursery Association (ISNA)

One of the absolute highlights of the Mallow Home and Garden Festival each year is the incredible selection of specialist Irish nurseries taking part. The Irish Specialist Nursery Association (ISNA) will once again be based in the Stables area of the racecourse, and I always encourage visitors to head there first.

Here you will find everything from rare and unusual plants to much-loved classics and even brand-new varieties that are only just becoming available in Ireland. The plant selection includes herbaceous perennials, shrubs, roses, clematis, ferns, and trees, all offered by the very people who have grown them.

The growers themselves are there, ready to share their knowledge, answer your questions, and help you choose the best plants for your specific garden conditions. This is what makes Mallow so special. You are not just buying a plant, you are getting the advice and experience of someone who has grown it from seed or cutting and knows exactly how to help it thrive.

Free Gardening Talks and Demonstrations

I am delighted to be returning to Mallow again this year to give a series of free gardening talks, along with my friend and fellow horticulturist Paraic Horkan. These sessions are a real favourite with visitors and cover everything from planting combinations and garden design to organic methods and sustainable gardening practices.

What makes these talks really valuable is the informal setting. We take questions from the audience and have proper conversations about the challenges and joys of gardening in Ireland. It is always great fun, and I learn something myself every time too.

A Brilliant Day Out for Gardeners and Families

The Mallow Home and Garden Festival is not just about plants. With more than 200 exhibitors expected this year, you will find everything from artisan foods and handmade crafts to garden furniture, home improvement solutions, and design ideas for both indoors and out.

Cork Builders Providers are once again supporting the event, helping to construct many of the show gardens and offering exclusive show discounts throughout the weekend. It is a great opportunity to speak directly with suppliers if you are planning a project in your own garden or home.

Everything is set up to make it an easy and enjoyable day out. There is full catering on site, plenty of free parking, and a shuttle bus from Mallow Train Station if you are coming by public transport. Children go free, so it is a relaxed and family-friendly day with something for everyone to enjoy.

Why You Should Visit the Mallow Garden Show

For me, what makes the Mallow Home and Garden Festival stand out is the real, grounded atmosphere it offers. There is no pressure, no pretence, just great gardens, great people, and a real love for the craft of gardening.

You get the chance to learn, to buy, to be inspired, and most of all, to enjoy. It is the kind of event where you leave not only with your arms full of plants and ideas but with your head full of possibilities.

So if you have spent the week admiring the beautiful gardens at Chelsea and feeling the gardening bug come alive, now is the time to act on it. Come to Mallow, walk through the gardens, chat to the growers, and take something home that will grow with you.

I will be there myself across the weekend, and I hope to see you there too.