Celebrity Dream Garden, inspired by Brendan Courtney
Declan McKenna
Garden Sponsor
About the garden - Medium garden
This contemporary garden is a carefully composed retreat where clean lines, texture, and function come together seamlessly. Designed by Declan McKenna in collaboration with fashion designer and television presenter, Brendan Courtney, it is inspired by Brendan’s recent project to redesign his garden at home in Wicklow.
Corten steel elements introduce warmth and architectural strength while floating sandstone steps guide you gently down through the space to a sunken terrace designed for relaxation and entertaining. Designed with Brendan’s active lifestyle in mind, the plunge pool offers an invigorating space to recover after swims or long runs. An outdoor shower and lounging area enhance the garden’s role as a restorative environment.
Planting is layered and purposeful, blending strong structural elements such as pleached hedging, sculpted topiary balls, and elegant multi-stem trees with softer perennials and flowing grasses. Three modern statement planters anchor the view and invite exploration through this thoughtfully designed outdoor space.
About the designer
Designer information
Declan McKenna is the in-house designer at Silverstream Landscapes in Monaghan. He studied at the College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise in Greenmount, County Antrim where he received a Foundation Degree and Higher National Diploma in Horticulture.
Declan was a finalist in the Horticulturist of the Year 2012 and competed in the 2013 series of RTÉ’s Super Garden. He has designed and built award-winning Show Gardens at Bord Bia Bloom in 2015, 2023 and 2024. This is his fourth garden for the festival.
Designer Information
