Popular RTÉ series to highlight sustainability initiative at Dromoland Castle

A project at Dromoland Castle that transforms kitchen food waste into nutrient-rich compost will feature in the latest episode of Home Grown on RTÉ.

For the series, which celebrates Irish horticulture, industry advocates and presenters Kitty Scully and Colm O'Driscoll once again travel the country, searching for stories that highlight the very best of the Irish horticulture industry.

In its third season, the programme explores everything from innovative growing techniques to the extraordinary people shaping Ireland's green spaces, profiling small producers, and highlighting the generosity of community gardening for a good cause.

The latest episode, to be broadcast this Wednesday night, features an innovative project being undertaken at Dromoland Castle.

Viewers will see presenter Colm O'Driscoll explore the project that transforms kitchen food waste into nutrient-rich compost.

Executive Head Chef David McCann, Sustainability Officer Fiona O’Shea Stack, and Head Gardener Dorothea Madden show Colm how this initiative reduces waste and enriches gardens.

Golf Course Superintendent Paul Coleman highlights the compost’s impact on the castle’s golf course.

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Speaking about the latest series of Home Grown, Colm O'Driscoll said: "Horticulture is such a diverse industry, and the full spectrum of this diversity is portrayed this season, highlighting the far reach of horticulture and the important role it plays in our society. I got to see the important therapeutic role horticulture plays in the inspiring 'Field of Dreams' project, while I also witnessed how horticulture can be used as a rehabilitation tool in one of our country's largest prisons.

"Last season, we saw how vulnerable Irish growers are to weather extremes, so it was interesting to visit Met Éireann to see the work they are doing to bring advanced weather warnings to growers sooner, helping them cope with our ever-changing climate. I also visited several enterprises that are bringing us new technology and innovations aimed at improving the sustainability of the industry. From autonomous driving tractors to carbon-sequestering fertilisers, the range of innovation is inspiring."

Co-presenter Kitty Scully added: "With twenty years of experience in Ireland's horticultural sector and my third season working on Home Grown, I continue to be amazed by the industry's ongoing growth and innovation. This season, the sheer diversity of horticulture in Ireland truly stood out—from the grandeur of historic castle gardens, meticulously maintained for generations using time-honoured techniques, to inspiring inner-city parks landscaped with repurposed materials; and cutting-edge rooftop gardening projects harnessing AI-driven robotic weeding technology to maximise efficiency and shorten food supply chains."

She added: "The series highlights not only how horticulture shapes our daily lives through food, public spaces, and biodiversity but also how every citizen plays a role in protecting and enhancing this dynamic yet often overlooked industry. This season is a powerful reminder that horticulture is woven into every aspect of our world."

Home Grown is produced by InProduction TV & Scéal Creative Ltd. and is sponsored by Bord Bia.

Watch the latest episode on RTÉ One television and the RTÉ Player at 8 pm on Wednesday.