Rathcroghan Ogham Alphabet Garden – Small Show Garden
Farming Rathcroghan team
Garden Sponsor
About the Garden - Medium Garden
This garden embodies the unique natural, agricultural and heritage landscape of Rathcroghan, County Roscommon, one of the Royal Sites of Ireland which is home to over 240 archaeological monuments and features, including 60 National Monuments.
The garden design is inspired by the Ogham inscription at the entrance to Oweynagat (Cave of the Cats) and celebrates our linguistic history, dating from between the fourth and eighth century, and its later association with trees. Also known as the ‘Gaelic Tree Alphabet’, Ogham contains 20 letters, each associated with a different native tree.
Reflecting the significance of trees to our culture, the garden features an Ogham totem pole as its centrepiece, with 20 circular wood rounds each containing the 20 letters of the alphabet. The pole can be rotated and letters lined up to demonstrate spelling of words and names, allowing visitors to reconnect with the cultural heritage and language of our landscape.
About the Designer
Designer Information
Farming Rathcroghan is one of 23 European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) which were funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to tackle current challenges in farming landscapes. It is the only EIP in Ireland with a focus on farming in an archaeological landscape.
The cooperation and support of local farmers has been central to its success, addressing the care and preservation of the monuments and features, and improving the socio-economic circumstances of the farming community. Following on from its successful Postcard Garden in 2023, Farming Rathcroghan returns to Bord Bia Bloom with its first show garden this year.
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