And if you’re looking for accessible art, consider Whyte’s summer auction, with estimates starting at €400This circular stone temple or folly garden pavilion (estimate: €15,000-€25,000) is one of the standout pieces for sale at the Sheppard's auctioneers sale at Glantelwe Gardens, Durrow, on June 30th Sat Jun 27 2026 - 10:43 • 4 MIN READAs garden-festival season gets into its stride, and the sunny weather beckons us outdoors, why not take a wander at a garden furniture and ornaments auction?Sheppard’s Auction House is holding its annual sale on June 30th in Durrow, Co Laois. Glantelwe Gardens, the private 1.2 hectare gardens of auctioneer Michael Sheppard on Mill Road, provides a perfect backdrop for all kinds of garden ornaments, planters, fountains, garden seating and gates. Although the practice of placing marble and bronze statues in palatial gardens dates back to the Roman and Greek civilisations, the fashion for garden ornamentation in country-house estates grew during the Georgian-era “Grand Tour” to the south of France and Italy. In Victorian times, cast-iron garden furniture became popular, as the emerging middle classes were able to afford to adorn their own gardens, with seating, ornamental urns and planters, sun dials, stone troughs and bird baths. Now, with gardening shows such a part of the TV schedule, the annual Bloom gardening festival in Phoenix Park and garden festivals throughout Ireland, the art and craft of gardening have become widespread. Sheppard’s Glantelwe Gardens sale offers a mix of antique and contemporary versions of garden statuary and ornaments. The circular stone temple or folly garden pavilion (€15,000-€25,000), is one of the standout pieces for sale. Most suitable for a country-house garden – where it must have originated – it is likely to attract both national and international interest. The large contemporary bronze cast garden fountain (€8,000-€12,000) will also attract attention, as will the life-size pair of Macaws cast in bronze (€2,500-€3,500).But, some gardeners may be seeking out shapes to draw the eye towards specific areas of interest in their garden or act as receptacles for plants. The four moulded granite garden spheres (€1,000-€1,500), or pair of stone garden spheres (€400-€600), the hexagonal moulded sandstone garden urns (€1,000-€1,500), or even the 19th century iron spoke wheel (€200-€300), might be useful for such purposes. Large contemporary bronze-cast garden fountain (€8,000-€12,000) at Sheppard's auction Life-size pair of Macaws cast in bronze (€2,500-€3,500), The auction also includes a wide variety of wrought-iron garden and field gates, and cast-iron garden ornaments of various animals. Visitors to the gardens can wander around the gardens today, tomorrow and Tuesday in advance of Tuesday’s sale.The name Glantelwe is an anglicised version of Gleann Tulaigh (the glen of the hillocks), and the little green mounds on the northern banks of the river Erkina, a tributary of the Nore, add character to the gardens, which were designed by garden designer Arthur Shackleton, who lives nearby. In the past, the Erkina provided hydropower to a flour mill, which, although now a ruin, provides another interesting feature in the gardens. Michael Sheppard lives in the restored miller’s house, and a nearby restored grain store serves as a storeroom for the auction rooms.Back in the capital, Whyte’s is currently hosting its summer online art auction, with more than 240 works. The auctioneer has chosen many of the pieces to suit the season, as summery coastal and market scenes, still-life paintings and gentle landscapes dominate the imagery. Hazel by Sarah Longley (€400-€600), Whyte's online art auction New collectors will also note that the auction has many pieces with estimates of between €400 and €600, including Sarah Longley’s portrait, entitled Hazel. Belfast-born Longley is the daughter of the literary critic Edna Longley and her husband, the late poet Michael Longley.Tory Island, County Donegal (€800-€1,000) by Patsy Dan Rodgers Whyte’s auction also includes several works by Patsy Dan Rodgers (1945-2018). The Dublin-born painter and musician spent most of his life on Tory Island, off the coast of Co Donegal. Devoted to Irish traditional music and the Irish language, he was elected " king” of Tory and often welcomed visitors to the island on their arrival. Patsy Dan Rodgers’s painting Tory Island, County Donegal (€800-€1,000) is for sale in the auction.Meanwhile, some collectors of early 20th century Irish art will be interested in the painting by William Conor (1881-1968) entitled The Elder Sister (€1,800-€2,200). The Belfast-born artist was the son of a wrought-iron worker who was commissioned to produce official pictorial records of soldiers and munitions workers during the first World War. Conor was renowned for his portraits of working-class life in Northern Ireland. The Elder Sister (€1,800-€2,200) by William Conor Viewing for Whyte’s online art auction continues today from 2pm-5pm and on Monday, June 29th, from 10am-5pm in the showrooms in Molesworth St, Dublin 2. Sheppards.ie; whytes.ie What did it sell for?Gem set and diamond bracelet, Adam's Gem set and diamond braceletEstimate: €7,000-€8,000Hammer price: €7,000Auction house: Adam’sLate 19th century sapphire and diamond necklace, Adam’s Late 19th century sapphire and diamond necklaceEstimate: €2,000-€3,000Hammer price: €3,600Auction house: Adam’sGold charm bracelet, Adam's Gold charm braceletEstimate: €1,200-€1,800Hammer price: €1,500Auction house: Adam’sDiamond bracelet mounted in 18k gold, Adam's Diamond bracelet mounted in 18k goldEstimate: €4,000-€6,000Hammer price: €4,800Auction house: Adam’sIN THIS SECTION