11th Annual Southern Symposium – Friday, 25th September to Sunday, 27th September 2026

A festival of friendship, food and fronds!

Whether you’re just setting out as a gardener or are an expert horticulturist, there is something new for everyone to discover at the Kells Bay House and Gardens Southern Symposium.
Now celebrating our 11th anniversary, this much loved event brings together expert speakers and passionate gardening for a weekend of fun, great food and conversations, covering everything from fronds to contemporary garden design.

About the Symposium

Held over three days in late September, the Southern Symposium is a highlight of the Irish horticultural calendar, with gardeners and speakers coming together to enjoy great talks, wonderful food and all in the stunning surrounds of Kells Bay House and Gardens.
Our horticultural gathering is limited to just 50 attendees, ensuring an intimate experience.

Meet the Speakers

Once again this year we’ve a wealth of Irish and international speakers. Here is the start of our lineup for this year’s Symposium to whet your appetite on those who’ll be bringing their passion and knowledge to Kells Bay:

Peter Zale Ph.D

Director of Conservation Horticulture and Collections, Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania, USA (Insert Peter’s photograph here)

Peter holds a Master’s degree and Ph.D in plant breeding and genetics (2009, 2014) from The Ohio State University and is currently Director, Conservation Horticulture and Collections, at Longwood Gardens. In this position he leads the plant exploration, collection,  conservation, and breeding programs through a combination field, garden, and laboratory based activities.

His main efforts at Longwood have centered around development of a comprehensive conservation horticulture program focused on native orchids of the U.S. and in planning and participation in over 30 plant exploration expeditions throughout the U.S., East Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Mexico, and equatorial Africa.

In his spare time, he has been creating a private botanical garden with over 1500 types of hardy geophytes and orchids, woodland plants, trees, shrubs, and a variety of other plants that reflect personal plant exploration efforts and personal efforts to “crack the code” through plant propagation. In 2024 he was awarded the Philip E. Keenan Award in recognition of contributions made to native orchid conservation in the

Talk Title: 
“Botanical highlights from a decade of plant exploration for Longwood Gardens”
Our next speaker to be confirmed shortly, from:
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa

Running Order 11th Southern Symposium – To be confirmed

Symposium Schedule

Friday 25th September – Gardens and Plant Centre open to delegates until dusk. Early evening guided tour of Gardens, visits to the Plant Centre and Symposium Buffet Supper followed by Guest Speaker.

Saturday 26th September – Delegates meet up for morning coffee, followed by a day of speakers, lunch from our authentic Thai restaurant, Q&A sessions and guided walks with speakers and guests.

Sunday 27th September – A morning filled with networking coffees, talks and Q&As with expert speakers and casual lunch, before formal sessions conclude and guests are free to wander the Gardens and Plant Centre.

Ticket Information
Full Weekend Ticket: €180.
(Includes all the talks, dinner on Friday night, light refreshments throughout the weekend and lunch on both Saturday and Sunday)
Day Tickets: €60
(Available for Friday and Sunday only – limited availability)

You may purchase your tickets here: (Please add here)

For full weekend tickets – maximum quantity of 45

For day tickets – maximum quantity of 10 each on Friday and Sunday

Celebrating Eleven Years of the Symposium

If you want to find out a little more about the Symposium and its background download the Brief History of the Southern Symposium

Sir Tim Smit KBE, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St. Austell, Cornwall, England
“Phoenix from the Ashes, the second coming of horticulture and the dawning of a new civilisation”
Kelly Dodson and Sue Milliken, Far Reaches Farm
“Plant Obsession Meets Conservation in the Far Reaches of Washington State”
Raf Lenaerts, Botanic Treasures, Antwerp, Belgium
“Cultivating Rare and New Magnolias”
Mark Collins, Dhu Varren Garden, Milltown, Co. Kerry
“Botanic Highlights from my Excursions to New Zealand and Chile”
Oliver Schurmann Mount Venus Nursery, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
“20 Years of Show-Gardens, Design and Planting”
Peadar Collins, The Irish Tree Centre, Kildorrery, Co. Cork
“The Fascination of Trees”