Global gardeners wowed by Ireland and growing garden centre industry

Ireland’s plant and flower growers are seeing a significant promotional boost with the five-day visit of 200 garden centre owners from 22 countries.

In Ireland for the international congress of the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA), the visitors from as far afield as China, India and Estonia have been hugely impressed by the quality of Ireland’s horticulture product, the activities for visitors to garden centres, and the quality of Irish food and entertainment.

A first time visitor to Ireland, Andrew Jones, a garden centre owner in Melbourne, said: “While the industries in Ireland and Australia have similarities, the garden centres here have moved to more of a department store feel, being more spacious and provide homeware and food offerings.