Community Gardens Ireland Spring Gathering and AGM 2026, 25 Apr
Join Community Gardens Ireland at the Online Annual Spring Gathering on Saturday, 25 April from 11:00 - 13:00 and learn from best practice around Ireland, here from a keynote speaker and others on topics to inspire and get down into the digging with.
It is 100 years since Community Gardens and Allotments were signed into law and we are still calling for a garden in every community.
Join us online to learn from each other, hear best practice, gain ideas, and support the movement. Tickets are free and donations welcome.
The 2026 theme is Let’s Keep Growing: A Garden in Every Community.
It is 100 years since the first national allotment law and we have roughly the same amount of community gardens and allotments now as in 1926.
We are honoured to announce our Keynote Speaker will be former President of Ireland Mary Robinson. Mary Robinson is a co-founder of Project Dandelion, which is a women-led global campaign for climate justice, Adjunct Professor for Climate Justice at Trinity College Dublin, and a member of The Elders. She served as President of Ireland from 1990-1997 and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997-2002.
We will continue the tradition of hearing reports from people on the ground, including community growing network leaders from Limerick, Cork City, and Belfast:
- Michael Gleeson, Social Enterprise Officer, Limerick City Partnership and Limerick Growing Communities
- Sandrine Bertin, Food Policy and Development Officer, Cork Food Policy Council
- Brenda Gough, Chair of Three Sisters Community Garden, West Belfast.
A highlight of the Gathering is the chance to learn from community growers from all over the country. There will be breakout rooms dedicated to the top challenges and opportunities such as Land Access, Governance, Horticulture, Biodiversity, Engaging Community, and Fundraising.