TU Dublin, GAP Ireland and Fingal County Council celebrate the GLAS @ TU Dublin community garden
What: Celebration of volunteering in a unique community garden
When: 19 March, 11h00 – 12h30
Where: LINC building, TU Dublin, Blanchardstown campus
GAP Ireland will host a special celebration to showcase the transformative impact of the GLAS @ TU Dublin community garden, a unique initiative promoting social inclusion and environmental education in Dublin 15.
The event will take place on Thursday, 19 March 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at TU Dublin’s Blanchardstown Campus, and bring together students, local schools, community volunteers and partner organisations to celebrate the achievements of this growing community initiative.
Cultivating vegetables, growing communities, and harvesting hope
Since its opening in 2023, the GLAS @ TU Dublin community garden has grown into an inclusive shared space connecting TU Dublin students and staff, local schools, community groups, asylum seekers and residents across Dublin 15.
The garden serves as a living classroom for sustainability, a centre for environmental education, and a hub for wellbeing, creativity and community collaboration. Thousands of visitors participate in workshops, planting sessions and events each year, making the garden a vital part of the local community.
TU Dublin President, Dr. Deirdre Lillis, will open the event, welcoming guests and highlighting the university’s partnership in supporting hands-on learning, research, and community engagement. The programme will also feature contributions from TU Dublin students and staff, GAP representatives, local schools, volunteers and community organisations with strong roots in Dublin 15.
Hans Zomer, CEO, Global Action Plan, said: “This event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible dedication of everyone who makes the GLAS @ TU Dublin community garden such a special place.”
“In this UN Year of the Volunteer, we are recognising the volunteers, partners and supporters whose time, energy and expertise have transformed the garden into a place where people can connect with nature, and with each other.”
About the GLAS @ TU Dublin community garden
Managed by GAP Ireland in partnership with TU Dublin and Fingal County Council, the garden provides a shared space for students, schools, residents, and community groups to connect, learn and take action on sustainability, biodiversity and social inclusion.
Formally opened in 2023, the garden hosts public workshops, volunteer sessions and educational programmes attracting thousands of visitors each year. In 2025, the GLAS @ TU Dublin community garden recorded 2,123 visits, for 213 events. The GLAS garden is part of a national movement of community gardens and allotments through Community Gardens Ireland. Community gardens were formally recognised under the Planning and Development Act 2024, which calls on local authorities to promote green, community-focused spaces. The garden demonstrates the value of multi-stakeholder collaboration, combining local government, higher education, NGOs, schools, community groups and residents to deliver environmental, social and educational outcomes.
For media enquiries or more information about the GLAS @ TU Dublin community garden or the celebration event, please contact GAP Ireland: info@globalactionplan.ie, or 087 151 0040