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DIARMUID GAVIN IS one of Ireland’s most well known and well loved garden designers. Here, the TV presenter, media personality, author and brand collaborator speaks to Ruth O’Connor about his career to date and his plans for 2026.
What inspired you to get into garden design in the first place?
I’ve always loved the outdoors and plants, but my fascination has always stretched beyond gardening. I was drawn to design in all its forms – architecture, cars, fashion, even the typography in magazines like The Face. I was obsessed with pop videos on MTV and the idea that design could evoke emotion. I didn’t want to make just pretty gardens or suburban ones; I wanted to create something expressive, something that could say something new and contemporary. That sense of possibility is what pulled me into garden design – the feeling that I could bring together creativity, emotion and design in a living, changing medium.
What have you learned so far in business?
I’ve learned that you have to believe in yourself, work hard, and, in the tougher times, just keep the vehicle between the ditches. Keep going and don’t give up. We’ve seen such change in this country – from the dullness of the seventies and nineties, through boom and bust, and now into another period of growth. The lesson is consistency: keep going, keep your standards high, and remember that most of your work will come from about ten percent of your clients. Look after those relationships and build from there.
What has been the most challenging time in your career?
A stand out example was 2004. I was living in London, and, on the surface, everything was thriving. I had several top-rated TV shows, adverts for my books running on the Tube, and I was appearing on Strictly Come Dancing. Outwardly, it looked like I was flying. But underneath, I was paddling like mad, trying to keep a business running with twelve staff in a studio on Portobello Road. Something had to give. It taught me that outward success can look effortless, but behind the scenes it’s all graft and exhaustion.
How do you juggle the different aspects of your work – private clients, media, and projects?
That follows on from those earlier years – I’ve learned to keep a better balance. No two days are alike, so I plan carefully but stay open to surprise. Every day might bring a new opportunity: a TV idea, a book meeting, a design pitch, or a conversation that sparks something unexpected. I make lists constantly – I’m a list-maker – and though not everything gets ticked off, it helps to keep me grounded. My days are full of variety, which is both exhilarating and chaotic, and there are still so many things I’d love to do that I haven’t even touched yet.
Where do you look for inspiration, and who has influenced you?
I’ve been lucky to meet and learn from extraordinary people. Philip Treacy’s creativity is off the charts – he’s a constant reminder of what imagination can do. Anne Heffernan of Dunnes Stores inspires me with her incredible instinct for retail; I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with her to talk about ideas and she’s remarkable. Terence Conran was another huge influence. He really adopted me when I moved to London. We did a garden together at the Chelsea Flower Show, wrote books through his publishing company, and had endless fun. Whether it was a pint at the Gravediggers in Glasnevin or dinner at his restaurant Bibendum, I learned so much from him about design, business and living well.
Describe your workspace.
It’s wherever I am with my iPad. I have a studio at home overlooking the veranda and the garden. In good weather I’ll sit outside with the sound of the garden around me. Sometimes it’s 6.15am with a coffee on Bray seafront, replying to emails and planning the day. Other times it’s on a plane, in a hotel or between meetings. My workspace is wherever inspiration finds me.
Describe a typical working day.
It could be a quiet day with just one Zoom and time to catch up on emails, design ideas and promises I’ve made. I could be meeting an important garden about a new project or recording a podcast, Garden Conversations, with my friend Paul. I meet be speaking to the developers of a sculpture park or attending the book launch of a creative friend – no two days are the same.
If it’s a Wednesday, I’ll always strive to be in Ireland and in the studio with Pat Kenny for my Garden Stories segment just before noon. Each week I tell the story of a remarkable garden or gardener, real or imagined – from the Garden of Eden or the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to the creation of the gardens at Powerscourt. Sitting with Pat is a dream; he’s both interested and interesting. I send him my research notes a couple of days beforehand and he reads them forensically, so when we talk I’m learning as I share the story. I love it.
How do you like to relax or de-stress?
I love running in the evenings, especially when it’s dark. I usually go for eight to twelve kilometres – it clears my head completely. When I’m home, I walk the dogs every day, often around the waterfall trails at Powerscourt Estate. It’s beautiful there, and the dogs are demanding enough to make sure I don’t skip it. Beyond that, I love catching up with friends for a few pints, a good dinner and great conversation.
How important is collaboration in your work?
Collaboration is everything. I couldn’t do what I do without the people around me. I work with Steve Simpson, a brilliant illustrator now based in Co. Roscommon, who creates a lot of the fantastical posters and visuals for my projects. I also work closely with Brian and Katrina in Dunnes Stores, and honestly, I could do nothing for my brand without them. Every success I’ve had has been built through partnership, conversation and shared ideas. There are still so many people I’d love to collaborate with – that’s what keeps it exciting.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
There was a time, many years ago, when I had to seriously think about that. Contemporary gardens weren’t understood then – people didn’t want them because they hadn’t seen what they could be. I was doing work that wasn’t paying, cheques were bouncing and things were rough. I gave myself a year to find another creative path if it didn’t work out. I’ve always been drawn to pottery, and I even began training as a chef, thinking those might be possible careers. But in the end, I knew I had to push forward – to take gardens, and the idea of design in gardens, further. It was the only thing that made sense.
What has been your proudest moment or favourite project so far?
It changes all the time. Recently, I spent time in Glenties, Donegal, working with the Brian Friel Trust, Donegal County Council and the Heritage Council to create a garden outside the house where the play – and later the film – Dancing at Lughnasa was imagined. Working with my team and the Trust, and being welcomed into that community, was incredible. It’s an ongoing project, and there’s still plenty of fun to come. But really, I’ve had so many favourite projects over the years – each one brings its own story, its own bit of magic.
What are you working on at the moment?
Right now, I’m writing a novel, designing gardens, and continuing to develop my range with Dunnes Stores – we’re expanding into outdoor plants. We’re also planning the Ideal Home Show for next year, where we’ll focus on hands-on experiences – showing people how to take cuttings, pot plants and look after them. I’m podcasting, developing new television series for next year, and finishing a series we’ve filmed in Northern Ireland called Greatest Gardens, which will be broadcast in 2026. There’s also a creative project in development for release on YouTube next year.
What’s next for you and your work in 2026?
This year feels full of possibilities. I’ll continue designing and building gardens, expanding the collaboration with Dunnes Stores, and hopefully launching some of these television and online projects that have been taking shape. I want to keep pushing creativity – making gardens that surprise people, that connect emotion with design, and that continue to tell stories in new ways. There’s so much more to explore, and I feel that the next few years are going to be among the most exciting yet.
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Follow Diarmuid Gavin on Instagram at @DiarmuidGavin for his latest news, views and gardening tips and tricks.
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