Restoration, Resilience and Renewal - Garden Symposium
Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Celebrating 25 Years of the Restored Victorian Walled Garden
Saturday, 10 October | 10.30am–4pm | Fordham Hall, Kylemore Abbey
Join us at Kylemore Abbey for a special gathering celebrating 25 years since the restoration of our Victorian Walled Garden and exploring the past, present and future of historic gardens.
Restoration, Resilience & Renewal brings together leading voices in horticulture, landscape heritage and garden stewardship for an afternoon of conversation, insight and first-hand experience.
The event will open with remarks from Conor Coyne, CEO of Kylemore Abbey, followed by a keynote presentation from Anja Gohlke, Head Gardener at Kylemore Abbey, tracing 150 years of horticultural history at Kylemore and reflecting on the remarkable journey of the Victorian Walled Garden.
Cultivating Heritage
The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion, Cultivating Heritage: Restoration, Stewardship & the Women Preserving Historic Gardens, bringing together five distinguished women with extensive experience in horticulture, landscape architecture, heritage and garden restoration.
The panel will explore the challenges and opportunities involved in preserving historic gardens, including:
• Restoring and caring for historic garden landscapes
• The evolving role of horticultural and heritage leadership
• Balancing authentic heritage features with contemporary needs
• Building climate resilience in historic gardens
• Inspiring the next generation of horticultural professionals
The panel will feature:
Anja Gohlke
Head Gardener, Kylemore Abbey
Anne Golden
Restoration Head Gardener, Kylemore Abbey
Finola O’Kane Crimmins
Restoration Landscape Architect
Claire Woods
Head Gardener, Hillsborough Castle
With a special contribution from
Sr. Magdalena FitzGibbons OSB
Benedictine Community Member & Restoration Manager
In the Gardener’s Footsteps
The day will culminate in a unique opportunity to experience the Victorian Walled Garden with members of the original restoration team.
At 2.30pm, guests will join an informal Restoration Walk through the garden, hearing directly from those involved in its restoration and stewardship. Rather than a traditional guided tour, the walk will offer an opportunity to explore the garden alongside the people who helped bring it back to life.
Anja Gohlke, Anne Golden, Frank Keane and Thomas McErlean, alongside Claire Woods, will share insights and reflections as the group moves through the garden, exploring the decisions, challenges and horticultural knowledge behind its restoration.
A Living Legacy
Twenty-five years after its restoration, Kylemore’s Victorian Walled Garden remains a living example of what can be achieved through long-term stewardship, horticultural expertise and a commitment to heritage.
This special event offers an opportunity to look back at the garden’s history while considering what its future might hold, from climate resilience to the next generation of horticultural professionals.
Guests can also take the opportunity to visit In Harmony in Nature, an exhibition curated by Robert O’Byrne, before or after the main programme.
Date: Saturday, 10 October
Registration: 10.30am
Programme: 11am–4pm
Location: Fordham Hall, Kylemore Abbey
Restoration Walk: 2.30pm