The Annual Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI) Landscape Awards took place at the Mullingar Park Hotel on 2nd April. The awards, known as the Oscars of the landscaping industry, acknowledge ALCI members who demonstrate exceptionally high standards of professionalism and skill in the execution of a wide variety of landscape projects.
The judges were Gary Graham, Managing Director of Hortitude and Kerrie Gardiner, Bloom Head of Show Gardens & Horticulture. They awarded marks on a variety of criteria, including the use of plants and hard landscaping material, the extent of challenges faced by the landscaper in completing the work and the overall impression and quality of the scheme. (see full list of category winners below).
Gary Graham, one of the judges, commented: “Since Covid struck many individuals and organisations discovered and embraced the physical and mental well-being benefits of quality green space for the first time and many others were reminded of its importance. Two years of working from home and holidaying at home provided two years of opportunities to observe horticulture and nature up close and personal in all its changing beauty across the seasons. These were extended periods of learning and appreciation of private gardens and green space or parks over many months of restricted travel and activities – this is now embedded in the national psyche. The pandemic will be remembered for a long time with much sadness, but I also think that this time will be remembered as a tipping point in the good fortunes of the landscape sector. We saw award winning entries everywhere across the country and as the world and its mother was working from home when we went visiting late last year we met more satisfied clients and more newly ordained advocates for professional landscape services than we have ever met.”
The 2022 ALCI Awards were supported by Bord Bia.
The ALCI represents Landscaping Contractors all over Ireland and is committed to the development of the landscape industry by ensuring quality of workmanship, best practice, reliability and emphasis on training. It recognises the excellence of landscaping across various categories achieved by its members through the annual all-Ireland Awards which have been running for over 30 years.
Landscape Contractor of the Year (for best overall entry)
Landscape Contractor: SAP Landscapes
Designer: AIT Urbanism
Client: Walls Construction
Address: Student Accommodation, 35-38 Cork Street, The Liberties, D8
“The Cork St Student Accommodation was designed to house students from numerous third level colleges across Dublin. This is not your ordinary student housing. It is of a standard that I have never seen – having had 3 kids in college, one in Cork, one in Galway and one in Dublin – I have never seen anything like this. The ambition is captured in the blurb – “…it is designed to facilitate a healthy environment, for student work, rest and play with numerous, social spaces filled with communal seating and a relaxed biophilic environment.” It delivers on all fronts and as a died-in-the-wool biophilic I can attest that despite this high density, high rise, busy, city centre location, the tree planting and soft work is so good that there is still a strong link back to nature and mother earth.
This works included hard landscape paving in a central courtyard, external paving to site, lots of blue limestone and silver granite, associated drainage, installation of aluminium and corten steel edging for amenity shrub beds, raised planters, urban tree pit installation and structural soil for semi-mature specimen, resin bonded pathways, artificial lawns, hard and soft on the roof garden including planters and irrigation throughout.
In addition to the challenges associated with Covid that everyone had to contend with this scheme required meticulous coordination with banksmen and teleporter operators to get the semi-mature specimen in situ and, as the planting took place out of season, all trees were container-grown.
A truly impressive project by SAP Landscapes.” Gary Graham, judge
Category Winners:
Private Gardens under €15,000
Landscape Contractor: David Ryan, Gardens Forever
Designer: David Ryan, Gardens Forever
Client: Private, Dublin
Private Gardens €15,000-€30,000
Landscape Contractor: David Ryan, Gardens Forever
Designer: David Ryan, Gardens Forever
Client: Private, Dublin
Private Gardens €30,000- €60,000
Landscape Contractor: Russell Landscaping
Designer: Sean Russell, Russell Landscaping
Client: Emer Ahern, Cork
Private Gardens €60,000 – €120,000
Landscape Contractor: Inspire Landscape
Designer: Eoin Ryan, Inspire Landscape
Client: Private, Dublin
Private Gardens Over €120,000
Landscape Contractor: Greenstone Landscapes
Designer: Ross Farrell, Greenstone Landscapes
Client: Private, Dublin
Residential Development
Landscape Contractor: SAP Landscapes
Designer: AIT Urbanism
Client: Walls Construction
Address: Student Accommodation, 35-38 Cork Street, The Liberties, D8
Commercial Development over €75,000
Landscape Contractor: Peter O’Brien & Sons
Designer: Park Hood
Client: Cian O’Connor
Address: Karlswood Stud, Blackhall Big, Batterstown, Co Meath
Public Authority
Landscape Contractor: Peter O’Brien & Sons
Designer: Murray and Associates
Client: Fingal County Council
Address: The Green, Malahide Village, Co Dublin
Residential, Commercial & Public Authority Maintenance over €20,000
Landscape Contractor: Redlough Landscapes
Client: Value Retail Management Ireland Ltd
Address: Kildare Village Outlet, Kildare, Co Kildare
Sportsgrounds Construction & Maintenance
Landscape Contractor: Garry Flood Landscapes
Designer: Jerome O’Brien, Greystones RFC
Client: Greystones Rugby Football Club
Address: Dr Hickey Park, Greystones, Co Wicklow
Special Award – Design & Build
Landscape Contractor: Inspire Landscape
Designer: Eoin Ryan, Inspire Landscape
Client: Private, Dublin
Special Award – Nature Conservation & Sustainability
Landscape Contractor: SAP Landscapes
Designer: Daibhi Mac Domhnaill, Cairn Homes
Client: Cairn Homes
Address: Oak Park, Ballymore Road, Craddockstown North, Naas, Co Kildare
