01 / NEWS
ADARE MANOR PROJECT DELIVERS ALCI BOG OAK TROPHY FOR PETER O’BRIEN & SONS
Peter O’Brien founded the family-run landscaping business in Malahide in 1963. The business is now managed by his son, Ciaran, and company Director, Peter
Dublin based family landscaping business, Peter O’Brien
O’Toole and employs over 100 staff. In addition to the
& Sons Landscaping Ltd, was recently announced as
Adare Manor refurbishment, the multi-award winning
the Landscape Contractor of the Year and winner of the
company has been involved in many high profile projects
prestigious Bog Oak Trophy at the Association of Landscape
over the years including East Point Business Park, Father
Contractors of Ireland’s (ALCI) annual awards in the Titanic
Collins Park, and Spencer Docks. In addition to winning
Centre, Belfast. The all-Island ALCI awards, often referred
the overall award, they also received the Sports Ground
to as the Oscars of the landscaping industry, celebrate the
Construction & Maintenance category award for St
high standards of professionalism and skill in the delivery of
Michael’s College in Dublin.
commercial, private residential and public authority gardens,
Pat McCormack, ALCI chairman, said,“This is a hugely deserved accolade for Peter O’Brien & Sons Landscaping Ltd
landscapes and sports grounds.
who have been trailblazers in the Irish landscaping industry
THE WINNING PROJECT - ADARE MANOR As part of the extensive refurbishment of the Adare Manor Estate in 2017, Peter O’Brien & Sons Landscaping Ltd was engaged to complete all soft landscaping elements within the 840 acre site. The project included all gardens, parklands, riversides, car parks and courtyards, alongside the roof garden on the hotel spa and elements of the golf club. The operation was managed by Gregg Fanning who has worked for the company for over 10 years and included
for many years. There are very few second generation businesses in horticulture and the O’Brien’s have shown that through hard work, dedication and an ability to adapt to changing economic conditions, it is possible to achieve great success. The O’Brien’s also give back hugely to the industry and have trained many of Ireland’s leading landscape contractors. They are well deserved recipients of the Bog Oak trophy for the fifth time.”
the establishment of an extensive onsite setup featuring
LANDSCAPING TRENDS
a dedicated nursery, procurement of locally sourced soil,
The award entries were judged by Gary Graham, Bord
management of up to 80 staff on site, and the transport
Bia’s Bloom Manager and Kerrie Gardiner, Landscape
and installation of more than 150 mature trees, 225 topiary
Architect and Bloom Show Garden Manager, who visited
plants, 5,000 herbaceous species, 1,700 hedging plants,
all of the shortlisted project sites.
10,000 clipped Taxus shrubs, 30,000 transplants and
Commenting on this year’s entries, Gary said, “The ALCI awards are always a great benchmark for assessing trends
500,000m2 of cultivating and seeding. ALCI Awards Judge and Bord Bia’s Bloom Manager Gary
in the industry. One of the continuing developments has
Graham said, ”The delivery of this stunning landscape
been the extension of the garden season to one which
at Adare Manor is testament to the skill and experience
is year round. We are seeing significant investment
which Peter O’Brien & Sons Landscaping Ltd has in
in outdoor dining facilities which in many cases
abundance. The sheer scale of this soft landscaping project
comprise fully functional kitchens, properly designed
is something which does not come around very often and
with significant lighting and heating. The impact of
the team demonstrated an agility and dexterity which
extreme weather as a result of climate change is taking
allowed them to tackle all of the challenges which they met
its toll on our gardens and this is where professional
along the way. The finished estate features a huge amount
horticulturalists, such as ALCI members, really come into
of clever planting and spectacular mature trees, which were
their own in using their skills to adapt the landscape to
sourced and transplanted from Irish nurseries.”
meet changing environments.”
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Spring 2019 / www.horticultureconnected.ie / HORTICULTURECONNECTED
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