An Afternoon With

An afternoon with guests

This Spring, following the hugely successful first series of “An Afternoon With” at Ardgillan Castle, we are excited to announce another three separate conversations with three local and incredibly influential personalities from our hinterland – namely, Michael Dawson, Hugh Fitzgerald Ryan and Dominica McKevitt.

The interviews will be hosted in the opulent castle Drawing Room by the journalist and celebrated children’s book author Shane Hegarty, who has a studio in the east tower of the castle. All three guests and our host have kindly agreed to appear for no fee. The Board of Ardgillan Castle will donate the entire proceeds from the three events to local charities.

Tickets are limited and are expected to sell out quickly and are just €15 each.
Please email eventardgillan@fingal.ie or purchase online at Eventbrite.

 

An Afternoon with Dominica McKevitt
is on Friday 12th April at 3pm

Dominica McKevitt, has been head gardener at Ardgillan Castle and Demesne since it opened. Her passion and knowledge of gardening and horticulture is clear and gardening enthusiasts regularly enjoy her garden tours. Gardening is in her blood. She trained in horticulture at An Grainán is particularly proud of the transformation of the walled garden and the propagation of the National Potentilla collection since she started her career at Ardgillan.

 

An Afternoon with Hugh Fitzgerald Ryan
is on Friday 19th April at 3pm

Hugh Fitzgerald Ryan Hugh Fitzgerald Ryan, a native of Skerries and a former secondary school teacher, is an accomplished artist and an author of 7 novels and one book of recollections of Skerries over the past eighty years. Hugh was formerly a teacher of swimming and was a stalwart of Skerries Swimming Club for many years.

 

An Afternoon with Michael Dawson
is on Friday 26th April at 3pm

Michael Dawson is a renowned Entrepreneur and former CEO of GVS Group, Michael Dawson is celebrated for founding the One4all Gift Card, a market leader in Ireland, the UK, and Malta. A finalist in the 2007 EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Michael now channels his entrepreneurial spirit as the Co-founder and chairman of the Irish Institute of Music and Song in Balbriggan, providing unique music experiences and programmes to communities and businesses worldwide.

Michael also serves on the Board of Halo Care, chairs its Commercial Advisory board, and actively contributes to various business and tourism boards. His philanthropic efforts include founding The Soul of Haiti Foundation and raising €1.2m through the annual Cycle2Galway initiative. A recipient of multiple prestigious awards, Michael remains a dynamic force in business and social impact.