GLAS community garden manager recognised for bringing people together and helping nature flourish in Ballymun.
Sharon Harvey, who manages the GLAS community garden in Ballymun for GAP Ireland, has been selected as one of 13 women from across Ireland to feature in Bean Feasa: Women in Nature, a national portrait exhibition celebrating women who are making a difference for nature.
Bean Feasa means ‘wise woman’ in Irish. The project, co-created by award-winning photographer Evanna Devine, Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration and Photo Museum Ireland, will tell the stories of women who are working to restore, protect and reconnect people with the natural world.
For Sharon, that work happens every day in the GLAS community garden. What was once an underused patch of waste ground in Ballymun has become a thriving green space where people can grow food and connect with nature, and with other people.
Speaking about her selection, Sharon said:
“I’m delighted to be part of this project. I’m honoured to be included in this celebration of the role women play in caring for people and the environment. I love nature and people, and I’m lucky that through my work I’ve made lifelong friends here, and that everyday I can see nature’s power to inspire positive change.”
Each year, the GLAS garden sees some 3,000 visits from people of all walks of life, including families, schoolchildren, people with disabilities, young parents, asylum seekers and people recovering from addiction. Sharon makes a special effort to ensure that everyone can take part, whether that’s by creating sensory spaces for participants with autism or bringing volunteers together for intercultural gatherings.
Those who spend time at the GLAS community garden often leave with more than new gardening skills; they build confidence, make connections and discover the satisfaction of doing something positive together. Sharon has a wonderful ability to help people feel that they belong and that their contribution matters.
As one of GAP Ireland’s community programmes, GLAS reflects the organisation’s belief that looking after nature and looking after one another go hand in hand. When people have the opportunity to connect with the natural world and care for the places around them, good things can grow for both people and nature.
Speaking about Sharon’s selection, GAP Ireland CEO Hans Zomer said:
“Sharon has created something really special at GLAS. She brings people together, makes everyone feel welcome and helps them discover what they can achieve together. We’re delighted that her work is being recognised. The GLAS community garden shows how caring for nature can also help build stronger, more connected communities.”
The Bean Feasa: Women in Nature exhibition will take place at Photo Museum Ireland in Dublin from 24 to 29 November 2026.
It will feature portraits and stories of 13 women from across Ireland, with the exhibition and accompanying publication due to tour nationally afterwards.
The project is part of the wider work of Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration, one of Ireland’s largest nature restoration initiatives. It celebrates the people behind nature restoration and the important role that communities play in creating a healthier future for the natural world.
Exhibition details
Bean Feasa: Women in Nature
Photo Museum Ireland, Dublin
24–29 November 2026
Further information: Photo Museum Ireland | Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration