NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS
Garraithe Náisiúnta na Lus
Glasnevin, County Dublin

The parish of Glasnevin gets its name after the stream Naeidhe which ran through the area in Celtic times. This area is about two miles from the city center of Dublin and in the Barony of Coolock. This parish is situated on fertile, rich lowlands that were created by an aperture in the land between the rivers Tolka and Liffey. The village itself grew up on the north bank of the River Tolka in the flood plain, Túlca, meaning flood in Irish.

In 1790, the Irish Parliament granted funds to the Dublin Society, now the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) to establish a public botanic garden. In 1795, the gardens were founded in Glasnevin. The purpose of the gardens has been to promote a scientific approach to the study of agriculture. In the beginning, the gardens demonstrated plants that were useful for both animal and human food, medicine and for dyeing, but the gardens also grew plants that promoted an understanding of systematic botany, or were simply beautiful or interesting.

By the 1830s, the purpose of the gardens had been overtaken by the pursuit of botanical knowledge. Plants from around the world were collected, which also brought the gardens in closer contact with great gardens in Britain, notably at Kew and Edinburgh.. By 1838, the shape of the gardens had been established, with a system of roads and paths throughout which were drawn up by then curator Ninian Niven.

David Moore, Niven's successor, is responsible for the creation of the glasshouses. These glasshouses were for the more exotic species that were being collected. Moore's contribution to the collection of unusual plants added to the reputation of the gardens and was nationally and internationally unsurpassed. His fields of specialty includes the flora of counties Antrim and Derry, also in fungi, algae, lichens, bryophytes, ferns and flowering plant. Moore developed links with the botanic gardens in Britain, Europe and in Australia; his brother Charles ultimately became director at Syndey's botanic gardens. It was Moore who first discovered potato blight in 20 August 1845. He predicted the impact on potato crops would lead to famine in Ireland, and while continuing to research the blight correctly identified the problem as a fungus and discovered a remedy.

David Moor was succeeded by his son, Frederick, who was made curator at the tender age of twenty-two! But he justified his position by continuing his father's work and bringing the garden into world recognition. He earned himself a knighthood for his services in horticulture.

After the passing of the Scientific Superintendent of the Gardens, William Ramsey McNab, in 1889, the position was left unfilled until 1968 when Brian Morley was appointed, bringing with him two botanists, Maura Scannell and Donal Synnott.

The gardens underwent a certain amount of restoration and renewal in 1992. This included the restoration of the Tuner Curvilinear Range of glasshouses, which were completed for the bicentenary of the gardens in 1995. A purpose built herbarium/library was open in 1997. Refurbishments were performed on the 18th century Director's House and the Curator's house. Lecture rooms were opened in 1997.

and Son who then shipped to Ireland in pieces to be assembled on site...a sort of Victorian flat-pack greenhouse. It was 65 feet high, 80 feet wide and 100 feet long. The Great Palm House suffered serious neglect in the early 20th century. It was eventually dismantled so that the pieces could be restored and repaired. It was eventually reopened in its original glory in 2004 to include the replanting of a natural rainforest, which includes species of palms, cycads, bamboos and other tropical species, particularly from Central America. Also species of import include coffee, banana, sugarcane and vanilla.

A traditional rainforest house was built in 2005 from materials imported from Belize in Central America. A Mayan Indian team was brought in from the sister garden, the Belize Botanic Garden, to construct the new glasshouse. It was inaugurated in September 2005 by Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern.

The Great Palm House Complex eventually went onto receive the 2006 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Medal.

The Botanic Gardens came under state care in 1878, but has seen a transfer between various offices including Department of Art and Industry, the Department of Agriculture, Dúchas the Heritage Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage the Gaeltacht and the Islands, but is now under the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW), which manages many of Ireland's Heritage Sites.

Use the map below to see the public walking paths and the location of the Great Palm House Complex is located. Visitors to the site can walk through the gardens at will, seeing the glasshouses, which include the Succulent House and Waterlily House and the Curvilinear House. Also, see the Rose Garden, Alpine Yard, Mill Field, Native Beds and Vegetable Garden, Chinese Slope, the Ponds, Herbaceous Gardens, etc. as well as many sculptures.

~ Free attraction
~ Parking available, €2
~ A special map is available to show accessible routes, ask at reception

http://www.botanicgardens.ie