Education
He received secondary education at Templeogue College, which he recalls the subjects as being "horrifying," with the exception of art classes, and studied horticulture at the College of Amenity Horticulture in Glasnevin, Ireland.
He received secondary education at Templeogue College, which he recalls the subjects as being "horrifying," with the exception of art classes, and studied horticulture at the College of Amenity Horticulture in Glasnevin, Ireland.
Gardening
Already more than €1.7 million had been given to the project by Fáilte Ireland, the Irish tourism body. The decision attracted widespread criticism including that of a number of Cork city councillors. Councillor Ted Tynan pointed out that there were over 500 boarded up local council houses in the city and demanded clarification from the council as to what the exact cost of the garden would be.
Television presenting
Gavin once presented Surprise Gardeners, a Central television series and a number of British Broadcasting Corporation television programmes including Gardeners" World.
Home Front with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and, in 2004, a Twofour and RHS production Gardens Through Time. RTÉ is currently screening the television show I Want a Garden.
Gavin, presented an episode of Great British Garden Revival which will air on British Broadcasting Corporation Two in 2014. Guest appearances
In Autumn 2004, Gavin participated in British Broadcasting Corporation One"s Strictly Come Dancing.
In Summer 2006, he participated in Only Fools on Horses.
In 2010, Gavin took part in the first series of the Independent Television reality competition 71 Degrees North and was the third celebrity to become eliminated on 21 September 2010. On 12 December 2010, Gavin appeared on Channel 4 on a Christmas edition of Come Dine with Maine with David Gest, Hannah Waterman and Sherrie Hewson. In January 2013, Gavin was a participant in the first series of Splash!.
Gavin was the fourth celebrity to be eliminated from the show, despite low scores on his first night.
On 8 October 2013, Gavin appeared as a guest on The Sarah Millican Television Programme on British Broadcasting Corporation. On 14 December 2013, Gavin appeared on The Chase: Celebrity Special. On 5 March 2014, he appeared in an episode of Sport Relief"s Top Dog with his dog, Roxie.
Gavin won an RDS Gold Award in 1991 and 1993, a bronze medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1995, a silver-gilt medal in 2004, and a silver-gilt medal in 2007. He finally won a gold at Chelsea for "The Irish Sky Garden" in 2011, in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, and the City of Cork. He is also a patron at Southport Flower Show. In 2007, Gavin received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Art from Nottingham Trent University in recognition of his international reputation for contemporary garden designs.
