Dressing celebrities, getting ‘star struck' and a hobbit door – not even a rainy start could dampen the spirits of traders at Bloom

Irish Independent

2 days ago

For traders and visiting groups, there have been plenty of highs and lows.
From florists to the man behind a 'hobbit door', the Irish Independent spoke with those behind the stands for their peaks and pits of Ireland's favourite festival.
For Anita Reynolds, owner of Anita Reynolds Art and Design, the high point was happening across sustainability advocate and former landscape designer Mary Reynolds, who was the youngest woman to win a Gold Medal at The Chelsea Flower Show.
'I saw her from a distance and said 'Oh hello Mary!' As if I knew her because I follow her online, but she was so lovely and she called over and bought a picture. I was star struck,' she said.
Ms Reynolds produces ceramics and textiles inspired by the natural world in Meath where she is based.
'I use embroidery technique, batik and hand stitching to create a lot of my pieces that are inspired by Irish lambs, birds, fauna, flowers, and also history. I love historical monuments, so some of my work is inspired by relief carvings also,' she said.
While the rain on Thursday was a bit of a damper for the businesswoman, she has had more sales and enquiries this year than her two previous years at the festival.
'On Thursday I had to take cover by the food stalls, the wind even made it difficult to eat. All the same, the footfall was amazing. Friday was probably my best day, but today has also been great for business,' she said yesterday.
We're all making connections to further our skills and for florists to support each other
The Institute of Flowers, Ireland's only professional organisation for florists, was also at the festival this year. It's the organisation's first year at Bloom.
Jenny Murphy of Flowers by Moira, and chairperson of the Institute of Flowers, who holds a gold medal from the Chelsea Flower Show from 2012, is passionate about empowering florists across Ireland.
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'We only launched the organisation in October and so we're here to raise awareness for professional floristry and create more of a community. We're all making connections to further our skills and for florists to support each other,' she said.
Throughout the five-day festival, the institute has been creating buttonholes and other wearable arrangements.
'We've given thousands of them out over the past couple of days. Everyone's donated their time. And then the whole staff has been sponsored by suppliers which has been great,' Ms Murphy said
Not everyone buys something but everyone stops and chats and says hello. It's a very uplifting experience
Philip Gaffney of O'Gowna, a handmade Irish gifts business, was also among the stands this year. The family business based in north county Dublin creates handmade chess sets, fairy doors, figurines and more.
For Mr Gaffney, the highlight of the weekend was chatting to the public about his 'hobbit door' he created for the festival.
'I've loved the honest reaction to it. We had a family come up to our stand and the mother later sent me the photograph she took of her three little girls sitting in front of the door. It just melted my heart to see them enjoy it,' he said.
The rain was also an issue for Mr Gaffney on Thursday, not for lack of sales, but because customers didn't have as much time for a chat.
'The people are so lovely. Not everyone buys something but everyone stops and chats and says hello. It's a very uplifting experience,' he said.
Another satisfied trader is Suzanne Clarke of Clarke's of Dublin, which sells handmade soaps, men's shaving products, candles. She has also enjoyed interacting with the crowds along with checking out what Bloom has to offer.
'It's been great to meet the makers, the clients that come into us and to chat with the creators of the gardens,' she said.
Ms Clarke's business is inspired by her great-grandfather's role in the 1916 Rising with her use of traditional typography and classic style of packaging.
'Lots of people have been buying for Father's Day the past few days, with the shaving soap and shaving bowl a big hit. I got the idea from when I used to watch my Dad shave when I was young. Our lavender soap sells all day long too,' she said.
Ms Clarke said she struggled to chat with buyers when she first started coming to the festival, ut now in her fifth year, business is bustling and she is a seasoned Bloom trader and loves mixing with customers.
'These days I love speaking with people and picking up on the buying trends for different products,' she said.