On 8 March 2018, President and Sabina Higgins visited the National Botanic Gardens to unveil a plaque honouring Richard Turner.
Richard Turner was an innovative designer in the 19th century and the high quality and decorative details of his glasshouses were famous throughout Europe.
The Curvilinear Range at the National Botanic Gardens designed by Turner were faithfully restored by the Office of Public Works in 1994. The restoration was innovative and scientifically ground breaking, and many techniques were specifically developed during the project.
At the time President Higgins was the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and his department oversaw the funding of the restoration. Then Minister Higgins marked the occasion of its public opening by planting an Arbutus tree nearby.
