31/03/2026
Community Gardens key to Irish Food Security as Mary Robinson to Headline Community Gardens Ireland Annual Spring Gathering and AGM - Let’s Keep Growing: A Garden in Every Community.
https://cgireland.org/community-gardens-ireland-annual-spring-gathering-and-agm-2026/
Community Gardens Ireland today announced the 2026 all-island virtual Annual Spring Gathering for Community Growing in Ireland will take place online on Saturday 25th April from 11am to 1pm. The Community Gardens Ireland AGM then continues at 1pm to 1:30pm.
The 2026 theme is Let’s Keep Growing: A Garden in Every Community.
It is 100 years since the first national allotment law and we have roughly the same amount of community gardens and allotments now as in 1926.
We are honoured to announce our Keynote Speaker will be former President of Ireland Mary Robinson. Mary Robinson is a co-founder of Project Dandelion, which is a women-led global campaign for climate justice, Adjunct Professor for Climate Justice at Trinity College Dublin, and a member of The Elders. She served as President of Ireland from 1990-1997 and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997-2002.
The Mary Robinson Centre
We will continue the tradition of hearing reports from people on the ground, including community growing network leaders from Limerick, Cork City, and Belfast
Michael Gleeson, Social Enterprise Officer, Limerick City Partnership and Limerick Growing Communities
Sandrine Bertin, Food Policy and Development Officer, Cork Food Policy Council
Brenda Gough, Chair of Three Sisters Community Garden, West Belfast Brenda Gough
The Three Sisters Gardening Community-West Belfast
A highlight of the Gathering is the chance to learn from community growers from all over the country. There will be breakout rooms dedicated to the top challenges and opportunities such as Land Access, Governance, Horticulture, Biodiversity, Engaging Community, and Fundraising.
This event has become one of the most popular events in Ireland for community growers with over 150 registered in 2025. Previous speakers include former Minister Malcolm Noonan, Hans Zomer of Global Action Plan, and Jennifer McConnell, former General Manager of Irish Seed Savers, and many more.
Tickets are free for all attendees and donations are welcome. Tickets on Eventbrite.
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/community-gardens-ireland-spring-gathering-and-agm-2026-tickets-1983892052534
Molly Garvey, Co-Chairperson of Community Gardens Ireland, confirmed the date for this year's Spring Gathering of Community Growers
Molly said:
2026 is an important year for community growing as it is 100 years since the first allotment
law in Ireland. The 1926 allotments law helped with food security in the 1940s but fell out of use, before being repealed in 1994. Communities have a new opportunity to access community growing spaces through the Sustainable Places and Communities Strategy Local Authorities must complete as part of their next Local Development Plan.
Community growers are part of a long heritage of community growing in Ireland. Community gardens are important sites of neighbourliness and yet their existence is often temporary and uncertain. Building on the recent recognition of Community Gardens in planning law and the pioneering work of on-the-ground networks as well as certain county councils, now is the time to ask: how can we support each other to grow food and wildlife in our communities? That is the focus of our Spring Gathering 2026 and we look forward to a rich discussion."
She adds: "Community Gardens Ireland is a unique voluntary organisation that supports community growing across Ireland. Now is the chance to join our committee and be part of the mission. To propose your candidacy, send a short paragraph to [email protected] before April 25th"
Dónal McCormack, Co-Chairperson of Community Gardens Ireland, said: "Each Online Spring Gathering has proven immensely popular in previous years. We are delighted to continue to keep the tickets free for community growers and wish to encourage as many community growers to sign up soon to ensure that they have a ticket."
He concluded: "Together we can work to ensure that there is a bright future for community growers locally, across regions, and throughout Ireland."
Tickets are free and available here on Eventbrite, on the CGI website www.cgireland.org
