Irish Orchid Society

Talk: Ireland's Wild Orchids authored by Brendan Sayers
2025-03-02 13:30 - 14:30 (Europe/Dublin) | The Auditorium @ The National Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
A talk on Ireland's beautiful and unique wild orchids authored by the republic's leading expert on her native species, Brendan Sayers.
The talk will take place in the auditorium at the visitor centre and will be given by the Irish Orchid Society Chair. It is open to members of the public at no charge, donations to the IOS will be welcome.

Workshop: Orchid Surgery - do you have a sick orchid or just want some advice?
2025-03-02 11:00 - 12:30 | The Gallery @ The National Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
Is your treasured orchid looking a bit sad, not growing well or you just need some advice?
Bring it along to our orchid surgery where you can get some expert advice and help towards orchid success.
This is open to members of the public, just pop along with your orchid, there is no charge but any donations to the IOS will be greatly appreciated.

Workshop: Caring for orchids in the home
2025-03-01 15:00 - 16:00 | The Gallery @ The National Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
A workshop on practical care for orchids in the home covering the following subjects:
Optimum conditions required for orchid cultivation
Identifying when your orchid is not doing so well.
Common pests and diseases.
Where is the best place to grow and how much watering, lighting, feeding does it need?
Why won't my orchid flower?
Presented by David Morse, Chair of the Irish Orchid Society

This is part of the IOS Spring Show and Exhibition, entry is free and open to the public.

Talk: Orchids of the Neotropics
2025-03-01 13:30 - 14:30 | The Auditorium @ The National Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
Guatemalan Ecologist Challen Willemsen will take you on a botanical and geographical journey from the jungles of Mexico, through Central America to the mountains of Peru describing the orchids of each region and their habitat.
About Challen Willemsen
A Guatemalan ecologist passionate about botany, particularly neotropical orchids and epiphytes in general. A member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission - Orchid Specialist Group. He volunteers regularly at El Tular Nature Reserve outside Guatemala City. In May 2023 he was awarded a Conservation Grant by the American Orchid Society to deepen the scope of his work at the reserve.
This event is part of the IOS Spring Show and Exhibition

IOS Spring Orchid Show and Exhibition
2025-03-01 12:00 - 2025-03-02 16:30 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
Open to the public. A weekend of Orchid wonderment with demonstrations, talks, art and exhibitions as well as displays of orchids in flower.
12 pm to 4pm on Saturday 1st March
10:30pm to 3:30pm on Sunday 2nd March

Orchid Table Show
Grand Raffle
Display of flowering orchids
Display of botanical art from the NBG Library Archive
Art Exhibition featuring Irish botanical artists including Susan Sex and Deborah Lambkin.

Talks and Workshops

Notice

There are no upcoming events.

Enquiries please contact chair@irishorchidsociety.org

February 2025 IOS Member's Night
2025-02-10 19:00 - 21:00 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
Monday February 10th @ 7pm Lecture Theatre at the National Botanic Gardens
This is a members' only night, but if you want to join the IOS you can do so at the meeting in-person.

The rest of this content is only visible to members
If you are want to join the IOS you can do so online via this website, standard membership is only €20 per year. Click this link to go to the membership page

January 2025 - IOS Virtual Meeting
2025-01-06 19:00 - 21:00 | https://www.irishorchidsociety.org/ios-event/january-2025-ios-virtual-meeting/
Join us for the first meeting of 2025 from the warmth of your own homes when we go virtual for the January IOS member's Night.
This night is dedicated to members questions and concerns around growing their orchids.
If you have an orchid in flower that you want to show the society, this can be done online too.
We will have a few orchids for raffle and the tickets will be available to buy online on the day.

Purchase Your Raffle Ticket Here

Summer Raffle Ticket
€2.00 – €10.00Price range: €2.00 through €10.00
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IOS Christmas Party 2024
2024-12-07 14:00 - 17:00 | Clontarf Castle Hotel, Castle Avenue, Dublin, Dublin, D03 W5NO, Ireland
The rest of this content is only visible to members
If you are want to join the IOS you can do so online via this website, standard membership is only €20 per year. Click this link to go to the membership page

November 2024 IOS Meeting - Talk by Dr Helen Millner on the genus Restrepia
2024-11-04 19:00 - 21:00 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
November IOS Meeting
Talk on the genus Restrepia by Dr Helen Millner, President of the Orchid Society of Great Britain.
Dr Helen Millner
Dr Helen Millner has been growing orchids for over thirty years and has been a member of the OSGB for about seventeen years. She has put on numerous orchid displays at all types of shows and all over The UK, including Chelsea, Chatsworth, the London Orchid Show and in addition in Germany and South Africa.
After retiring, she returned to University to undertake orchid research - in particular Restrepia pollination biology for which she was awarded a doctorate. She specialises in Pleurothallids which are her main love, in particular, the mystery of the minute and microscopic side of orchids and how they help to reveal the fascinating facts of orchid biology.
This event will be available to view online through the Google Meet link that will appear on this page 15 minutes before the start of the event. Dr Millner will be talking to us from the UK via Google Meet.
We will have an in-person raffle on the evening for some lovely prizes including some books. Raffle Tickets are €5 each.
Please bring cash for the raffle.

The Orchid Society of Great Britain Autumn Show
2024-11-02 08:30 - 16:30 | Wraysbury Village Hall, The Green, Wraysbury, Surrey, TW19 5NA, United Kingdom
This event is open to the public, it's a lovely opportunity to see beautiful orchids on display with cups and rosettes awarded to the best plants.
Set-up is from 8:30am – 10:00am.
Plant entries from 8:30am, in place for judging by 11:00am, collections by 4:30pm.

October 2024 IOS Meeting - talk on Peruvian Orchids with Challen Willemsen
2024-10-07 19:00 - 21:00 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
IOS October Meeting at The National Botanic Gardens
Challen Willemsen, Guatemalan Ecologist and Member of the IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Group
This October we welcome back Challen Willemsen who will be presenting directly from Guatemala a talk about his trip up into the Peruvian mountains.
In November of 2023 Challen attended the 7th SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON ANDEAN ORCHIDS at the University of San Antonio Abad in Cusco Peru. Cusco lies in the south east of Peru and was the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. Situated near to the Sacred Valley of the Andes it is often the place to set off on a trip to Machu Picchu.
After the conference this is exactly what Challen did; visited Machu Picchu and went even higher up into the Andes to find orchids of all kinds in the high Andes.
He'll be relating his trip to us and as usual have a plethora of wonderful images of all his finds and places he visited in the cloud forests of Peru. This will be a fantastic night and there will be a Q&A session at the end of the night.
The presentation will be available on the night virtually and you can watch it on this page below 9links and watch button appear 15 minutes before the . If you want the link for the event, RSVP below and the link will be emailed to you.
In-Person Raffle
If you want a chance to increase your collection for only €5, on the evening we will also have our usual in person orchid raffle with tickets at €5 each. Please bring along some cash and purchase your raffle tickets at the door on your way in.
Orchid Show
Finally, after the success of our first orchid show in September We'll also have some special prizes for the best show orchids brought in on the night, so if you have any special orchids in flower, do bring them along early for judging. The lecture theatre will be open from 6:30pm for people bringing show orchids.

RHS Malvern Autumn Show
2024-09-27 - 2024-09-29 | The Three Counties Showground, Malvern, WR13 6NW, United Kingdom
The Autumn Show celebrates country living with vintage vehicles and fashions, harvest competitions, rural crafts and local, artisan food & drink markets

IOS Member's Night September 2024
2024-09-02 19:00 - 21:00 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
September Member's Night
After the summer break, we meet again at The National Botanic Gardens lecture theatre for a member's night. This is a night to bring along any orchids you have issues with or ones that you want to show off to the society. We will have a special prize for the best orchid on the night and of course a raffle with some beautiful orchids as prizes!
If you are bringing an orchid in for advice, or to show, please RSVP below to let us know; also RSVP below to let us know if you are coming in-person or joining online.
See you all in September!

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park
2024-07-17 - 2024-07-21 | Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6SG, United Kingdom
RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, is a day out for all the family, with unique gardens, talks and tips, children’s activities, floral installations, markets, stalls and lots of tasty food and drink to enjoy

AGM 2024
2024-07-08 19:00 - 21:00 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
The Annual General Meeting of the Irish Orchid Society will take place on Monday 8th July at 7pm in the lecture theatre at the National Botanic Gardens.
Membership renewals can be made on the night and we would be delighted to welcome new members.

Wild Orchid Hunt - Bull Island
2024-06-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Bull Island Visitor Centre, Dublin, Dublin, D05 RP86, Ireland
On the evening of June 27th Brendan Sayers will be leading a guided tour for members only of the Bull Island Nature Reserve to view the orchids growing/flowering there. According to Biodiversity Maps Ireland (https://maps.biodiversityireland.ie/) orchid species on Bull Island include the Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera), the Western Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza kerryensis syn occidentalis), the Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyrimidalis), Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchii), Early Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata), Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella), Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis palustris) and probably more. Not all are in flower, but the dull spring may have kept some of the early ones in flower.
If you wish to go, places are limited so RSVP below early!!!
Details: Meet at 6:20pm at the Bull Island Visitor Centre (Link to google map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pz5FuM3RCfc1u2yn7).
NOTE: we depart at exactly 6:30pm on the walk; if you're not there on time we will not wait. Wear suitable clothing and footwear for the expected conditions (marshy in places).
To reduce environmental impact we're looking for car pooling options, if you are willing to take other people please email deputychair@irishorchidsociety.org.

The International Orchid Show Malvern
2024-06-14 - 2024-06-16 | The Three Counties Showground, Malvern, WR13 6NW, United Kingdom
The premier orchid show in The UK...
..takes place every year at The Three Counties Showground, Malvern as part of the Three Counties Show. Over 30 exhibitors and societies will have displays at the show.

Bord Bia Bloom
2024-05-30 - 2024-06-03 | Bord Bia Bloom, PHOENIX PARK, DUBLIN 8, D08 X6X3, Ireland
Bord Bia Bloom is Ireland's largest and most spectacular gardening event.

IOS Member's Night May
2024-05-20 19:00 - 21:00 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
After freshly returning from the weekend visit to the UK, our Monday meeting on the 20th will include a talk and lots of pictures and video of the UK trip.
We also have some beautiful orchids for the in-person raffle, please bring along some cash.
We will also have some bark and coir fibre for sale.
The night is also available for online viewing through the links that will appear on the page below 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.
See you all on Monday 13th @ 7pm

IOS Visit to Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
2024-05-12 11:00 - 17:00 | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE, United Kingdom

IOS Visit to The Mathers Foundation
2024-05-11 14:00 - 16:00 | The Mathers Foundation, W Chiltington Rd,, Pulborough, RH20 2PR, United Kingdom

IOS Wild Orchid Hunt
2024-05-11 10:00 - 12:00 | South Downs NP at Amberley, Amberley, Arundel, BN18 9ZL, United Kingdom

IOS Visit to RHS Wisley
2024-05-10 14:30 - 17:00 | RHS Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB, United Kingdom

IOS May Trip to the UK
2024-05-10 - 2024-05-12 | Dublin

IOS Member's Night - April
2024-04-08 19:00 - 21:00 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
We will be in the lecture theatre at the visitor centre of the National Botanic Gardens on Monday 8th April from 7pm. This is also a virtual event and members can join online through the Google Meet Link.
Agenda

Online Raffle Prizes
Presentation on common Orchid Glossary terms and what they mean
Evening Raffle
June Workshop

RHS Orchid Show at Wisley
2024-03-15 - 2024-03-17 | RHS Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB, United Kingdom
The wonderful RHS Orchid Show returns to Wisley! Held in the Garden Room at RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science for the chance to meet orchid growers, browse dazzling displays and pick up expert advice with our programme of talks and demos. The show offers everything needed to nurture your passion.

IOS Member's Day Workshop
2024-03-10 11:00 - 15:00 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
Join us for the monthly meeting which in March which will be an in-person workshop at the National Botanic Gardens.
As there’s lots of questions and requests for help in all sorts of areas, like how the website works to issues with plants and advice. These all take time to answer which we don't have at night time. Therefore we’ve decided to host a daytime meeting at the NBG on Sunday 10th March from 11am to 3pm.
This will be held in the meeting room behind the Curvilinear Range (exact directions to follow).
The workshop is open to members of the public.
Please let us know if you're intending to come along by RSVPing below.

IOS Member's Night - 7pm Monday, 12th February 2024
2024-02-12 19:00 - 21:00 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
Our first in-person meeting for 2024!
We'll be meeting at our usual location, the lecture theatre at the National Botanic Gardens at 7pm (please note the new time for starting is 7pm from now on)
We will have a re-potting demonstration from Chair Marie Hourigan.
There will be a raffle on the night, please bring some cash with you to purchase tickets.
We will go through the itinerary for the May visit to the UK and the costs.
If you wish to join the Irish Orchid Society, please feel free to come along and join on the night. Annual membership fee is still €20.
Please feel free to RSVP below for this meeting, when you do you'll receive the link for the Google Meet by email.
The links will also appear on this page, on the night of the event, you just need to log in to see them.

IOS Members Virtual Night - January
2024-01-08 19:00 - 21:00 | https://www.irishorchidsociety.org/ios-event/ios-members-night/
Our January meeting will be entirely on-line, there will be no meeting at the Botanic Gardens.
We will be discussing

In-door growing techniques
The May trip to the Mathers Foundation and organisation of that trip.
We'll also announce the winners of the Xmas competition.

Please feel free to RSVP below so we know how many will be joining the virtual meeting.
An alternative to the Orchid Show.
As an alternative to the very popular annual Orchid Show that took place at the NBG; it is proposed to take a stand at Bloom 2024 instead. This will be a much greater undertaking than the NBG option as 99% of the organisation was done by the Botanic gardens. The Bloom 2024 option will be entirely on the shoulders of the Society.
We don't need a large stand, but what we do need are a display of orchids and plenty of people to attend the stand. Bloom runs over six or seven days. After the set up time/day; the stand will need to be covered from 9am to 6pm Thursday 30th May to Monday 3rd June. It is proposed to do this in two shifts per day, Morning and Afternoon.
Members who join in the effort to man the stand will also have access to Bloom before or after their shift.
Express your interest in manning the stand at Bloom 2024
IOS May Trip
We have provisionally held a date of the 11th May 2024 to visit The Mathers Foundation in the South East of England. This is very close to Kew Gardens and RHS Wisley both have an extensive orchid collection and display house.
It would be a long weekend. The details and cost are to be worked out yet, but it is proposed that to reduce travel-time we fly into one of the London airports on Friday morning and depart on Sunday evening. If you are interested in being part of this trip, please can you express your provisional interest by completing the form? This isn't an obligation, just to give us an idea of numbers interested.
The outline proposed agenda would be

Depart Friday Morning 10th May
Friday Afternoon: RHS Wisley to view their new Orchid House.
Overnight stay with group dinner
Saturday: a guided tour of The Mathers Foundation, a private orchid collection, see more here
Overnight stay with group dinner
Sunday: Visit to the orchid collection at Kew Gardens
Depart Sunday evening

Express your interest in joining this trip

IOS Member's Night November
2023-11-06 19:00 - 21:00 | National Botanic Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Co. Dublin, D09 VY63, Ireland
November Member's Night at the earlier time of 7pm. We will be at our usual venue in the lecture theatre at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin

Details of the evening:
Members are invited to bring along any orchids in flower to show and discuss or with issues they may have, questions about or looking for advice in an informal question and answer session and we'll have a discussion on indoor cultivation, feeding and pest control.
Please RSVP below to let us know if you will be attending in-person or virtually/online.

Under the RSVP section towards the bottom of this page, can you also go to the IOS Christmas Party event page and let us know if you intend to attend?
