Dorothea Madden
Responsible for the care of the gardens is our Head Gardener, Dorothea Madden. Ennis born Dorothea first came to work at Dromoland Castle’s Gardens in 1989 and has worked here ever since after becoming Head Gardener within a few short years. Within her time at The Castle, Dorothea’s proudest achievement is the part she played in the restoration of two Walled Gardens, especially the flower-filled garden which is a gloriously colourful, atmospheric and immaculately maintained place. By a strange coincidence, Dorothea’s familiarity with historic Walled Gardens can be traced back to her early childhood years. “My parents owned an old Victorian house with a large garden that included a 3- acre walled garden. I think my own love of plants came from my Aunt Florence but my lifelong passion for horse-riding comes from my late father, something I also share with my husband and which I have passed onto my own children.”
Rainy Days!
"The best thing one can do when it's raining, is let it."
Rainfall is recorded in the walled garden every morning and quantities are submitted to the Met office every month for the last 80 years.