It will be an oasis of calm for Marymount residents.

Cobh ornithologist Seán Ronayne will officially open the stunning new gardens at the hospice in Curraheen on July 4th.

Sean has already visited the new outdoor space to examine the birdlife that can be spotted there, identifying over 20 species of bird including mallards, blackbirds, goldfinches, wrens, dunnocks, robins, little egres and starlings.

The Marymount Garden Project aims to create a sanctuary for people to spend cherished moments with their loved ones while finding solace in nature during challenging times. The project comprises an arrival garden, the remembrance garden and a wildflower spiral meadow situated on a land-protected fairy fort.

The project is a collaboration between local Cork designer Valerie Bond and West-Cork based landscaper Colm Cronin. Each area has been sensitively considered to ensure a harmonious reaction between people and nature.

Part of the Marymount Garden Project also involved inviting 12 Cork-based artists on-site to generate a creative response to the garden. The artists will each submit one final work for inclusion in a calendar for 2025 which will be sold to raise vital funds for the charity.

The Marymount Garden will open to the public on July 4th at 12pm with a free programme of music, activities and tours of the garden. Sean Ronayne will be giving a talk about birds native to the area as part of this programme.

“It is full of birdlife – very varied out there and beautiful song. said Sean.

“It’s a beautiful place to spend time in, to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.”