The Gardens At Ballymaloe Cookery School

Walk through the little wooden gate at the entrance to Ballymaloe Cookery School and step into a veritable Eden. Beyond the main cookery school building (once an old apple store), lie several captivating gardens - some carefully designed and highly ornate, others allowed to grow wild at certain times of the year. Each space has a unique personality and a special story of its own to communicate.

The gardens may be enjoyed one by one over the course of several visits to the school. Ideally, however, a most pleasurable morning or afternoon can be passed meandering from one to the next. Our popular Garden Tours, conducted by our knowledgeable Garden Guides, are an absolute must for anyone keen to learn more about:

  • The history of the gardens
  • The astonishing variety of plants and flowers
  • Daily maintenance and seasonal planting
  • Organic composting

OUR SPLENDID GARDENS INCLUDE:

The Water Garden

The Water Garden

Learn More
The Soft Fruit Garden

The Soft Fruit Garden

Learn More
The Celtic Maze & Wildflower Meadow

The Celtic Maze & Wildflower Meadow

Learn More
Topiary & Shell House

Topiary & Shell House

Learn More
The Old Pleasure Garden

The Old Pleasure Garden

Learn More
The Herb Garden

The Herb Garden

Learn More
Lydia's Garden

Lydia's Garden

Learn More
The Ornamental Fruit Garden

The Ornamental Fruit Garden

Learn More
The Kitchen Potager

The Kitchen Potager

Learn More

GARDEN OPENING HOURS & PRICES

Garden Opening Hours

Open All Year

- Monday - Saturday 9.30am - 5:30pm
- Closed Sunday.

Glasshouse Opening Hours

The Glasshouses are generally open Monday to Friday, and visitors are welcome to come in and look around as part of The Farm Walk.

Admission

  • Adult: €8.50
  • OAP & Students: €7.00
  • Children (8-16 years old): €6.50
  • Children Under 8: FREE
  • Family (2 adults/3 Kids): €25
  • Annual Ticket: €45 per person
  • Annual Family Ticket €80

Includes entry into the gardens & Organic Farm.

Garden Tours

  • Guided Garden Tours may be booked.
  • A guide will be provided free of charge to groups over 15 people with an admission price of €7.50 pp.  
  • Concessions do not apply to tours.  
  • We charge €20 for a guide for groups under 16.  
  • A minimum fee of €60 applies for a guided tour for very small groups.

Please phone us on +353 21 4646785 to arrange a garden tour.

Farm Walk

A visit to the Ballymaloe Cookery School Gardens can be extended to include a highly recommended visit to our beautiful organic farm.

The Farm Walk begins just beyond The Shell House at the end of The Topiary Garden. Follow the Butterfly Archway

food truck

The Food Truck and Field Café at Ballymaloe Cookery School opens from June-September.

We serve light lunches using produce from the farm and wonderful Irish artisan food producers, homemade kefir and kombucha, delicious Golden bean coffee, loose leaf tea and a selection of freshly baked seasonal cakes and sweet treats.

Opening times are from 10am-4.30pm Monday - Saturday June to September.

Garden Blog: 

Winter crops

Read More
Garden
November 2014

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

Read More
Garden
September 2014

Vegetables and flowers on the menu

Read More
Garden
August 2014

Everything is ripening

Read More
Garden
June 2014

Garden Diary - April 2014

Read More
Garden
April 2014

Garden Diary - February 2014

Read More
Garden
February 2014

Garden Diary - January 2014

Read More
Garden
January 2014

Garden Diary - December 2013

Read More
Garden
December 2013

Garden Diary November 2013

Read More
Garden
November 2013