A floating garden – what might sound like a story from One Thousand and One Nights is reality in Cork in the south of the Republic of Ireland, home to the Irish Sky Garden, a globally unique creation by Irish garden designer Diarmuid Gavin.
During the summer months, in a large pod planted like a garden and offering seating, visitors are hoisted some 30 metres skywards by a crane. From on high they have a glorious view across the coastal city of Cork and the province Munster. The suspended pavilion is set in a landscaped garden with 25 small ponds.
With its elegant curves and pink design, the pod seems almost futuristic, and designer Diarmuid Gavin did indeed draw his inspiration from the floating islands featured in the Hollywood blockbuster Avatar. At the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show 2011, the Irish Sky Garden won Gold and is now celebrated as Cork’s latest tourist attraction. For the event community in particular the Irish Sky Garden makes a perfect, extravagant summer venue for dinners or light aperitifs.
