Doorus Orchard Community Garden - a brief history: The community garden is located in a half acre walled garden attached to Doorus House, Kinvara, Co. Doorus Orchard Project was set up in 2004 and with Heritage Council of Ireland funding, planted up with over 50 heritage apple trees from the Irish Seed Savers Association - representing the West of Ireland apple collection - and other tree fruits s
uch as Mulberrys, Medlars, Green Gages, Damsons, Peach and Plums. Each tree is clearly labelled, showing the type of fruit and origin of that fruit. A walled garden is every gardener's dream. The high walls provide shelter from the strongest winds and encourage a benign microclimate, and is a pleasant work place in all but the wettest weather. As a community Garden it is open to the public all the time so if you are in the area you can pop in and have a look. What's in the garden?
- A picnic area
- A biodiversity garden
- An extensive apple orchard of heritage Irish apples.
- Lots of other tree fruits
- A soft fruit area
- Allotments
- A gazebo with clay pizza oven
- A perennial vegetable garden
- Bee hives
- Large and small growing tunnels
- An opaic tunnel as a covered in work space
Get involved - volunteer with Doorus Orchard. There's lots of ways to get involved- You can volunteer, come to events, help organize events, join the committee or just buy apples from our market stall. We're looking for:
- Artists and musicians- to add something interesting to the space or run a workshop that would bring art into the garden.
- Carpenters, or handy DIY enthusiasts- we could do with benches, picnic tables, arches, a new shed, and a play house for kids.
- Event organizers- plenty of room for improvement in this area, we'd love to see the garden more in use and attracting new people in.
- Grant fiends- any good at applying for grants? Know where to apply to and not put off by long and complicated forms??
- And of course gardeners- even beginners, just so long as you're enthusiastic!!! Get in touch if you think you'd like to help out. [email protected]
Directions:
From the Limerick-Galway road, the N18, turn for Kinvara at Kilcolgan. Drive straight through Kinvara village following for the Burren and Ballyvaughan. After about 1 mile from the village there is right turn signposted for Traught Beach and Knockgarra. Take this turn and follow to the Traveller’s Inn pub, and keep on this road as it veers right at the pub and keep right at the fork. This road then passes over a causeway, and after an ‘S’ bend there is a right turn signposted for a B&B, take this and the Youth Hostel driveway is the next right. In all it’s about 4 miles/6 km from Kinvara village. Park at the rear and the gate to the garden is clearly visible from the carpark. The Garden is open to the public all year round and entry is free, and there is a picnic area.
