History
FitzGerald Nurseries was established by Patrick FitzGerald in June 1990. The nusery was built in stages since then on the FitzGerald family farm in Co. Kilkenny Ireland. The farm land has been farmed by the FitzGerald family since the 1700's and was a typical traditional farm of the time containing aproximately 100 acres. There have been at least nine generations of the family involved in agriculture and horticulture on the family holding.
In the centre of the nursery activity is a well preserved neolithic ring fort or in Gaelic (Rath). This is the remains of what was probably the first agricultural activity by the Celts on this farmland. Many of these sites still remain today all over Ireland as a reminder of our long agricultural history this particular settlement is said to be much bigger than normal.
Due to the major changes in agricultural production opportunities Patrick FitzGerald diversified from the traditional Cattle, Dairy and vegetable enterprises to focus mainly on nursery production. He established the nursery and specialized in the production of young plants for sale to growers in Ireland.
Neolithic farm settlement dating from 4th Century AD. View inside showing the old protective embankments left and right. This special protected site on the farm is living testament to intensive agricultural activity dating back over 1,500 years.
Export Development
In 1994 sales began to develop in the UK and FitzGerald Nurseries began shipping plug rooted cuttings and Liners of mainly hardy nursery stock. The plants produced were mainly for supply to nurseries growing for landscape trade and these included plants such as Rubus tricolor, Lonicera pileata, Escallonia macrantha, Senecio greyii, Cotoneaster cvs etc. As market trends looked like changing the nursery began to grow more and more young plants for growers supplying the retail sector which delivered higher value returns.
Expansion
In 1999 FitzGerald Nurseries became a limited company FitzGerald Nurseries Ltd. Investment was made into more modern greenhouse facilities to cater for changing species mix. This investment was made on the basis that it was felt the market was beginning to change dramatically. The certainty that the company would be growing the same range it grew in the past was becoming doubtful. It turned out that this judgment was correct and this was the beginning of a new direction for the business which would become more evident only finally in the 2004 season.
During 2004 the glasshouse area was further upgraded with 2000 square metres of container benching and 4000 square metres of high specification heating. This enables the nursery to propagate its new and novel varieties which FitzGerald Nurseries Ltd has become known for.
It can be said that over this 4 year period much change has occurred in the market but also this pace of change has been kept up to by the nursery as is evident from the exciting plants now grown. This change ahead of market change has enabled the nursery to offer customers up to date options for their production ranges. Many of the plants pioneered by FitzGerald are potential top sellers not only in Ireland and UK but across Europe.
Marketing and Product Development
From very simple product development and marketing to achieve growth in export sales in 1994 the company is to the forefront in developing exciting products and brands for the future. See a selection of pictures from the fantastic range now developed at FitzGerald Nurseries on our Plants page.
Product Development
In December 2004 FitzGerald Nurseries took over Plant Technology Ltd Irelands only commercial plant tissue culture laboratory. With a staff of 15 the laboratory now produces exclusively for FitzGerald Nurseries sales and production. The focus of the laboratory is on novel and licensed plant varieties with a ver special emphasis on foliage plants for outdoor garden and patio planting.
During 2005 further work on formalizing the structure of the nursery product development was undertaken. A product development plan for the next 5 years was drawn up and a formal trials garden has been established on the farm. It is hoped that both customers and suppliers will participate in this initiative over the coming years and already a second section to add to the current 1.5 acres is in the planning stages. In 2009 planting has begun on the new trial and display gardens.
See the garden blog here ...................http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com/
You can read and see more of this initiative by clicking here or if interested in participating please contact us and we will send you our terms. Read more >>
 Grasses, Cordyline & Phormium cvs |
 Cross view of site |
 View down centre |
 Shrub & Perennial Trial |