Ireland's Historic Gardens

Robert O'Byrne examines the history of Ireland's country house gardens over the past 400 years, when design has reflected political and social changes. In the first programme of this two part documentary, historian Robert O’Byrne visits Muckross Abbey in Co Kerry, Lismore Castle in Co Waterford, Portumna Castle in Co Galway; and the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin.

Robert O'Byrne heads to Powerscourt, Co Wicklow, the foremost example of the kind of elaborate, formal style so popular in Ireland in the middle of the 19th century.