'This is something that every city and town can do', Minister Malcolm Noonan visits Carlow

Minister for Heritage Malcolm Noonan visited the new edible pollinator garden at St Patrick’s College in Carlow Town accompanied by Carlow County Council’s Environmental Awareness Officer Shane Casey.

St Patrick’s College in Carlow Town, has unveiled a brand new edible pollinator garden which has been laid out in a Celtic Knot design. Fruit trees underplanted with fruit bushes, and all underplanted with a variety of herbs, providing food for pollinators and for ourselves. You will also find traditional bee skeps, wicker hurdles, and a quote from Seamus Heaney’s poem, “A Herbal” at the site.

Minister Noonan, complemented the garden on his visit, noting it would be a valuable demonstration site in support of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. 

This project sprung from the County Carlow Green Infrastructure Strategy which was adopted by the council in April 2023. The notable location of St Patrick’s College, along with its history (the role of their former kitchen garden in providing food for its residents), presented the opportunity to create a valuable demonstration site.

The Edible Pollinator Garden was designed by Shane Casey, Environmental Awareness Officer with Carlow County Council, and installed by Larry O’Toole, Groundskeeper at St Patrick’s College.

Noonan commented on the scheme, saying “This is something that every city and town can do to support our urban pollinators. It enables local authorities and communities alike to be strategic in their approach. And this beautiful garden here in St Patrick’s College fills a significant gap, and demonstrates what can be achieved”