Sky Garden may cost the taxpayer another €100k

DIARMUID GAVIN’S award-winning Sky Garden may cost the taxpayer another €100,000 – on top of the €300,000 already committed by Cork City Council and the €1.7 million by Failte Ireland.

The Irish Independent reports there are fears that the cost associated with the transport, insurance and operation of the garden may amount to an extra €100,000.

Last week, Gavin’s eye-shaped Sky Garden won the gold at  prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. It is hoped that his creation – which is suspended 82 feet in the air by a crane and features pools, plants and grasses – will attract tourism to Cork, when it forms part of a larger garden planned for Cork’s Mardyke.

Meanwhile, Cork City Council has played down reports of a row with Gavin over funding for the garden, RTÉ reports. The council described reports of arguments between it and Gavin as a “storm in a teacup”.

Diarmuid Gavin’s flower show entry cost Irish taxpayer €2.5m – report >