GOD OF SUNSHINE Alex This statue is the God Apollo. At this stop we will tell you about the creation of the Italian Gardens. Anthony Mervyn, the 7th Lord Powerscourt, placed Apollo here opposite his sister Diana. He felt that together, the pair symbolise Powerscourt’s wonderful fusion of art and wild nature. Both these statues were bought in Rome in the 1840’s by Richard the 6th Lord Powerscourt. Sarah Apollo is the God of sunshine, truth, music, poetry, dance and healing. THE ITALIAN GARDENS Alex Apollo’s devotees were the two successive Lords Powerscourt, Richard and Mervyn, father and son. They created these extraordinary Italian Gardens in the second half of the 19th century. Visits to European wonders such as Versailles and Schonbrunn Palace amazed Richard. Could he too create a garden paradise right here in the Wicklow Mountains? Anthony It seemed like a crazy idea! A mammoth task lay ahead. Richard hired the talented garden designer Daniel Robertson. He had the drive to realize his vision of a European style garden. Together they began to forge ahead with Richard’s ambitious plans. Alex Robertson suffered from gout. To distract himself he sipped sherry. He shouted directions at his workers from the comfort of the wheelbarrow used to get him about. When his bottle was empty, work stopped for the day! Sarah One cold winter’s morning Richard called his young seven year old son Mervyn out from his schoolroom to lay the first stone in the ground. Heartbreak was to follow when Richard died on a statue buying tour in 1846. Anthony The statues returned home, but not his father. Alex Work in the gardens stopped and the statues were crated for the next 14 years.Mervyn shared his father’s vison and when he came of age he devoted his life to fulfilling it. Anthony Lavish shopping sprees of Europe followed where he bought gates, fountains, urns and sculptures. 100 labourers toiled for 12 years to excavate and build these terraces. He transformed the panorama before us from fields where sheep grazed into these amazing gardens. Alex Mervyn planted hundreds of thousands of trees. They had been collected from all over the world.Toward the end of his life he said: ‘“Nobody can say that I have not left my mark” Today I continue this tradition of tree planting for future generations. DEBTS Sarah Mervyn and his wife Julia were childless. His much disliked brother Lewis was to inherit. Mervyn was determined to spend his entire fortune on the gardens. Anthony After 17 years of marriage, Julia surprised everyone. She produced 5 children. Alex These heirs inherited their father’s debts. Future Wingfields were faced with maintaining ever more elaborate gardens. Sarah And with ever diminishing means. Alex If you want to know about my day to day life as head gardener visit the Diana stop. Her statue is on the far side of these steps.