Gardeners and guides sought for careers at OPW heritage sites
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From: Office of Public Works
- Published on: 27 May 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
Among the buzz at this year’s Bord Bia Bloom Festival will be the Office of Public Works (OPW) stand at the conservation area and its new careers campaign “Where Roots Begin”. The campaign highlights the diverse career paths and rewarding job opportunities available at the OPW for both new and experienced horticulturalists and heritage guides at more than 70 historic sites with Visitor Services under its care.
Using virtual reality headsets, the OPW has created an immersive careers experience for visitors to Bloom, featuring long-term craft gardener Gary Mentanko from JFK Arboretum, newly promoted foreperson Thomas Murphy from Altamont Gardens and local heritage guide Olivia Furlong from Tintern Abbey.
Together, they invite audiences into their unique world of work, and the extraordinary beauty of their surroundings every day. Get immersed in plant collections from around the globe and listen out for the calls of jackdaws and moorhens as Gary, Thomas and Olivia share their world, taking visitors behind the scenes of both their jobs and the heritage sites where they work.
Among the OPW heritage sites currently looking to grow their teams of professional gardeners and heritage guides and other roles over the coming months are the National Botanic Gardens, the Phoenix Park, Dublin Castle, Castletown House and Estate, Kilkenny Castle, Heywoo Gardens, Doneraile Court, Annesgrove, Derrynane and Garinish Island. OPW’s campaign will run on digital/social platforms in the lead-up to Bloom and over the summer months. Open positions and future recruitment competitions are advertised by the OPW on LinkedIn @OPWIreland throughout the year.
As the OPW works to deliver on its climate and biodiversity commitments, the organisation is especially interested in hearing from gardeners with a level 7 in Horticulture and possible experience of grassland management for Biodiversity, herbaceous borders, and pollinator friendly planting.
Also sought are heritage guides with the ability to communicate their passion for Ireland’s heritage with local communities, school groups, and visitors from near and far. Our heritage guides bring Ireland’s heritage stories to life.
With more than 100K visitors expected to attend Bloom next bank holiday weekend, the OPW is delighted to welcome the public to the Phoenix Park, one of the many heritage sites it manages. The Phoenix Park’s team includes more than 60 gardeners, guides, and park rangers alone, with responsibility for more than 1750 acres of parkland that support more than 50% of all mammal species and 40% of all bird species found in Ireland.
Rosemary Collier, Assistant Secretary at the Office of Public Works (OPW) said:
“Our new campaign “Where Roots Begin” showcases the valuable work of gardeners and heritage guides at OPW heritage sites around the country. Using virtual reality, we wanted to open their places of work to people with a passion for Ireland’s natural and cultural heritage.
“What better place than Bloom in the Phoenix Park to experience what a day working on one of Ireland’s most significant heritage sites feels like – see behind the scenes and learn about what it takes to present these sites at their very best. Using virtual reality, we hope to inspire, engage and educate visitors next bank holiday weekend as the OPW recruits for a wide range of diverse and exciting roles all year round.”
For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie
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