The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan TD, today announced that, following its hugely successful debut last year, Bloom will return to the Phoenix Park this June Bank Holiday weekend. More than 50,000 people visited the spectacular gardening extravaganza in 2007.
Bloom 2008, hosted by Bord Bia, will further build and develop on the themes and features that made the inaugural event such a stunning success. More than 30 superb show gardens from Ireland’s top horticultural talent will be complemented by a larger and more spectacular pavilion featuring the best of Irish plants and flowers. Bloom 2008 will also introduce a new Health and Wellness Arena and a craft trail offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy live demonstrations by crafts people at work. There will be an exclusive Preview Day on Thursday 29th May with limited ticket sales; a cookery demonstration stage featuring some of Ireland’s leading chefs; an Irish artisan food market; a children’s play area and an outdoor entertainment stage.
Central to Bloom 2008 will be the 30 exquisite show gardens. Similar to other international gardening events, a team of experts will judge the show gardens and medals will be awarded based on strict guidelines addressing both horticultural skills and design superiority.
Officially launching Bloom 2008, Minister Coughlan said “With greater urbanisation and higher housing density few of us now have the luxury of living in a natural landscape. There is however an inherent human desire for the calm and stimulation provided by the planted environment whether it is an elaborate planting scheme or just a few pots. This can come ready made or through the well and long recognised therapeutic exercise of caring for plants. Bloom, building on the success of last year's inaugural event celebrates our relationship with plants and will show many possibilities of how this can improve our quality of life.”
Speaking at the launch, Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive, Bord Bia commented “The immense public response to Bloom 2007 confirmed the need for a world class gardening event in Ireland. It proved that we have both the indigenous design talent and the demand among the Irish public for an outstanding event of scale and quality. Bloom has put horticulture and gardening on the Irish social calendar and I am confident that as the event develops in years to come it will put Irish designers and horticulturists on the international map.”
“Bord Bia is committed to further developing this outstanding showcase and for anyone with an interest in flowers; gardening; crafts; fine food or simply outdoor life, Bloom 2008 offers a memorable day out for all the family. We look forward to welcoming the public to what promises to be a remarkable and unmissable event” continued Aidan Cotter.
Bloom has again secured a number of high profile partners including Keelings, Tesco and Pfizer who will contribute, among others, to an eclectic mix of advice and expertise throughout the weekend. The event is also being run in association with the Office of Public Works (OPW) who has provided the picturesque setting of the Phoenix Park Visitors Centre.
Tickets are now available by calling 0818300260 or log on to www.bloominthepark.com. Adult ticket prices start at €18 and there are a number of discounted family orientated packages.
Bloom will run from the Preview Day on Thursday 29th May to Monday 2nd June inclusive.