[James Kilkelly]

Who created this Irish gardening website?

It has been asked on a few occasions who created Irishgardeners.com , so I decided to let the interested know.
That's me, James Kilkelly, the fuzzy face in the picture below.



After graduating from the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, I established a landscaping business in Galway, installing gardens to outside designer's specifications.
This eventually evolved into more of a consultancy and design practice, as I found that more and more, I was offering my own suggestions of how to improve the design, and finding them appreciated.
Nowadays I spread my time between garden consultancy, article writing for regional newspapers, and the further improvement of Irishgardeners.com
More background info here.

Why did I establish this website?
Well, the internet is a great resource for those of us interested in horticulture, we can search for plant types, their likes and dislikes, and ideas on how to lay out the perfect garden.
But I discovered that websites relating to gardening in Ireland were scarce, and many did not allow the readers to put forward their questions and answers to the topics they were reading about.
That's when I decided to put together this Irish gardening resource with the help of my webmaster (brother) , and as is happening, the regular input of gardeners throughout Ireland and beyond (over 1600 members to date).

So here we are, over the past month alone the site has had in excess of 130,000 hits, and over 70,000 unique visitors.
Heres hoping it keeps growing, and with it our knowledge, and gardens.

SLÁN
James / GPI.

[nan]

James
you are a great person
may god bless you

"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." - Elbert Hubbard

you are one of those few extraordinary people who deserve to be proud of them
keep going ^^

[artalis]

Well done!


Love it. Great resource. Thanks James for your hard work and vision.

Thanks also to everyone who shares their knowledge and experience, by posting here.

artalis

[michael brenock]

it is a great site, so easy to get into and get around. it is very well organised into sensible categories and it is a pleasure "meeting" such wonderful people. Well done james.
michael brenock

[Sive]

I agree with all the above comments....it's all too easy to forget the person who started this wonderful forum.
Thank you James.

[Her Outdoors]

James - you had great foresight in setting this up, and it seems to attract the nicest people. I have learned so much about gardening since finding this forum, and love reading the posts by other members. This time of year is so busy - garden going mad, family visits etc., but I still manage to log in for my "fix" every couple of days. Well done you!!

[forest flame]

it is a great site and we are very fortunate that someone took the time and effort to set it up
so THANK YOU JAMES

[sal]

brilliant site,thank you,i try to look in daily and this site has helped me no end to put together a garden in progress and not the jungle come rubbish tip it used to be. (not forgetting my dh who works hard to build the structures and dig out the beds etc,)
long may this site continue

[The Fly]

James, many people including me owe you a lot. The knowledge that's in the forum is priceless.

Thank you James , and all the other people who give of their time to educate others, and me. Is there a patron saint of gardeners. If not there will be in
years to come.

Saint James Kilkelly

[one eye]

James,
Since I found this site my little knowledge has improved and am very thankful.
Need more information now on best practice on the following project. I am involved in community development and our group are starting a community garden project, hope to lease 4 acres from local authority. Some of the ground will be keep for wild flower meadow, some raised beds and the rest to allotment plots