Devonshire cream tea will be served during the ‘Devonshire Day’ this year on Sunday, March 20th at Lismore Castle in county Waterford. Guests to the castle on the day can take a unique opportunity to enjoy afternoon tea in the Pugin Room and experience a preview tour of Lismore Castle’s Spring Gardens.
Devonshire Day is now an annual traditional at the castle; guests are served Devonshire Cream Tea under the guidance of the Duke of Devonshire’s butler and are then offered a guided tour of the castle gardens under the expert guidance of the head gardener an opportunity not normally available to visitors.
Devonshire Day is a fundraiser organised by the ‘Immrama Festival of Travel Writing’ committee. The Immrama Festival takes place this year for the eleventh year in Lismore from June 16th to 19th.
Tea and tours take place at 11.30am, 12.40pm, 1.50pm, 3.00pm and 4.10pm. Entrance is by ticket only. Tickets are available from the Immrama office and Lismore Heritage Centre and cost €20. For further enquiries and bookings contact 058-53803 or 058-54975 or see facebook.com/lismoreimmrama
The Lower Garden was formerly known as the Pleasure Grounds and is spectacular in the springtime. A number of camellia, rhododendrons and some particularly magnificent magnolias can be found here. There has been extensive planting over the last number of years and the gardens are being constantly refined and improved.
The walls surrounding the garden date from the early 18th century and have been planted with roses such as Francis E, Lester, Bobbie James and Rambling Rector to name but a few. The Lower Garden also boasts some spectacular sculptures by well-known artists Eilis O’Connell, Anthony Gormley and Marzia Colonna.
