A magical secluded wedding and event venue nestling on 14 acres of beautiful landscape arranged almost symmetrically around a Georgian House in the middle of a divine valley, The Garden, Ballintubbert, in Co. Laois is a truly an exclusive destination to celebrate your special day.
The settlement at Ballintubbert dates back to 1540 and having been lovingly restored over the past ten years, this continuous work of art has only just recently opened to the public as one of Ireland’s largest Garden attractions.
Ballintubbert was originally home to poet C. Day Lewis (father of Daniel Day Lewis and poet laureate) who was born in the house in 1904 and the actors John Hurt and Sebastian Shaw, who played the role of Anekin Skywalker in Star Wars.
Ballintubbert, which is generally opened daily, is closed for the exclusive use of wedding parties. A typical wedding at Ballintubbert would see the wedding party arrive on the Friday evening and stay in the beautiful 4 bed Georgian House for the weekend.
The wedding ceremony itself can take place on the Saturday afternoon at any of three venues: Immediately adjacent to the garden is the 1780 Church of Ireland; One mile’s drive brings you to the idyllic Ballyadams Catholic Church; and for civil ceremonies, the Lutyen’s Garden in Ballintubbert Garden itself.
The Gardens and house provide a perfect backdrop for wedding photos, while guests enjoy a drinks reception overlooking the canal. Towards evening, the main wedding reception takes place in the Big Top marquee on the Theatre Lawn. This comfortably seats 200 people, with two adjacent Himalayan Yurts for bar and smoking areas.
After dinner, the First Dance can take place outdoors after dark overlooking the Canal, and this will be followed by a magnificent Fireworks Display. From midnight onwards, courtesy coaches will bring guests to their hotels in the vicinity every 30 minutes.
On Sunday morning, those same coaches will return to collect your guests and the venue is again yours for a barbecue.
The Garden Ballintubbert is also available to hire as an exclusive event venue and there are a series of events taking place on the grounds throughout the year, including a Halloween Fest and Sculpture Festival – for an updated list see www.ballintubbert.com.
It is also a perfect destination for family day trips, gardening enthusiasts, people interested in history and the arts, as well as tourists to Ireland.
The owners, Fergus and Orna Hoban, have been making The Garden for over ten years now, having restored and significantly expanded it in the Arts and Crafts tradition.Important features include the Lutyens Garden and Robinson Meadows, named after the famous garden designers Edwin Lutyens and William Robinson; the Victorian Secret Garden, the Beech Wood and the Lyttle Orchard.
