Programme 2

Designer: Padraigín O'Donoghue

Padraigín O'Donoghue is secondary school teacher working in Ballincollig, Co. Cork. She teaches English & French, and she also teaches gardening to Transition Year students.

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View Padraigín's plans (PDF)

View the Student's Garden Diary (PDF)

The Clients

Philip & Vicky O'Reilly live in Ballincolling, Co. Cork with their sons, 7 year old triplets Adam, Cian and Daniel. Life can be quite hectic with 3 young boys, so Philip and Vicky would love their garden to be a tranquil havan.

The Garden

The garden is unusual in that it is a short, wide space which wraps around the back of the house. Previous DIY adventures in the garden have not quite gone to plan, and the garden is now looking a little worse for wear. It is also regularly invaded by a local dog who makes his way in through the insufficient boundary at the back of the garden.

The Challenge

Vicky and Philip would love a relaxing space where they can enjoy a glass of wine in the evening, or invite friends and family over, but the designer cannot ignore the fact that the garden will also need to accommodate their boisterous sons as well. The garden will therefore need to have a restful, contemplative atmosphere while still being child-friendly and relatively low maintenance.

The Design

When designing for this garden, Padraigín has incorporated elements which will draw on the skills and talents of craftspeople she knows. Her garden will include ancient traditions such as thatching and stone carving, as well as willow weaving. Padraigín will also have help in the form of Transition Year students from the local secondary school where she teaches.