Devonshire Day at Lismore Castle returns for Mother's Day

If you fancy a real treat in Waterford this Mother's Day, then Devonshire Day at Lismore Castle might be for you.

Devonshire Cream Tea will be served on Sunday, March 27th, when guests can enjoy afternoon tea in the Pugin Room, attend a talk on the history of Lismore Castle and experience a preview tour of Lismore Castle’s spring gardens.

The event is a once a year occasion and not on offer generally to visitors. It has not taken place for the last two years due to the Pandemic.

A fundraiser for Immrama

Devonshire Day is a fundraiser organised by the ‘Immrama Festival of Travel Writing’ committee.

It's been confirmed that a ‘boutique’ Immrama Festival will take place June 2022 for the first time since 2019. Dates have yet to be released.

The use of the castle and the gardens for this fundraiser is by permission of the owner of Lismore Castle, Lord and Lady Burlington.

The Gardens at Lismore Castle

The Lower Garden was formerly known as the ‘Pleasure Grounds’ and has a range of flowers to enjoy in Spring, with camellias, rhododendrons and magnolias.

The walls surrounding the garden date from the early 18^th century and have been planted with roses such as Francis E, Lester, Bobbie James, Rambling Rector to name but a few.

The Lower Garden also boasts sculptures by well-known artists Eilis O’Connell, Anthony Gormley and Marzia Colonna.

The Upper Garden is one of the few Jacobean gardens to survive in anything like its original form. The first Earl of Cork, helped by his gardener John, built a high surrounding wall and a raised terrace terminated at either end by turrets.

The Central Walk, which is between the herbaceous borders, is backed by yew hedges. Located here are some artistic works by Bridget McCrum, Simon Thomas, Emily Young and Edwin Whitney Smith.