BRIGIT’S CELTIC GARDEN & CALENDAR SUNDIAL

Take a step back in time and relive Celtic heritage and mythology at Brigit’s Garden.

Set within 4.5 hectares of beautiful woodland and wildflower meadows in Roscahilll, Brigit’s Garden is a family friendly and magical place which features four gardens which represent the different Celtic festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasa. Visitors can explore the four wildlife gardens which are designed to reflect the west of Ireland landscape and are dotted with interesting features.

Within the garden you will find the calendar sundial, the biggest calendar sundial in Ireland. Constructed in 2006, the sundial tells both the time of day and the month of the year. In order to retrieve this information, it uses very simple but at the same time beautiful techniques. A five-foot spike of bog oak is embedded near the centre of a stone circle which casts a shadow across the stone circle. The stone circle has elliptical lines carved in the stone which highlight the month of the year though the use of the shadow. The length of the shadow is then used to determine the different times of the day. Although what seems a very simplistic technique, the calendar sundial provides great accuracy in its times and dates using these centuries year old methods.

In addition to discovering the wonderful Celtic heritage and mythology at the garden, you can relax and enjoy the food at the garden café which offers excellent cuisine made with organic ingredients (some of which are direct from the gardens itself!). What’s more the nature trail, children’s discovery trail, ring fort and numerous events throughout the year, make Brigit’s Garden a truly unique and special place for people of all ages.