‘Stunning job' – Gardening-mad Peter O'Mahony blown away by Dublin Bloom Festival as it opens to visitors

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

GREEN-FINGERED Peter O'Mahony has given Dublin's ongoing Bloom Festival the thumbs up by hailing organisers for doing a "stunning job" with it.
The annual gardening showpiece opened to the public yesterday and will remain open daily from 9am-6pm until Monday.
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O'Mahony will be retiring from rugby once Munster's run in the URC play-offs comes to a close
Credit: @peteomahony
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He recommended anyone with a passion for gardening to head out to Phoenix Park over the long weekend
Credit: @peteomahony
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Wife Jessica has also come onboard in promoting Kerrygold's involvement in it
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Anyone who follows Peter on Instagram knows he definitely walks the walk when it comes to gardening
The retiring rugby veteran and wife Jessica
The 35-year-old hailed: "It was a pleasure for myself and Jess to launch the 'Nature Wrapped in Gold' garden at Bloom this year. They've done a stunning job."
In a follow-up Instagram snap he added: "If you can make Bloom this weekend you'll get some brilliant gardening ideas and tips as well as have a great day out."
This Kerrygold debut deepens the brand's celebration of Irish farming, sustainability, and simple everyday pleasures.
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The golden theme of the garden reflects the precious habitat that supports diverse wildlife, and evokes the rolling pastures of the Golden Vale.
The 'Nature Wrapped in Gold' garden was designed by Ailish Drake and Conor Hourigan, founders of award-winning architecture and landscape design practice Drake Hourigan Architects.
The Kerrygold garden holds a special place in Ailish's heart, as she grew up on a dairy farm in the heart of the Golden Vale where her brother Liam continues to farm today.
Enclosed within a golden-flecked boundary wall with a verdant green undulating strip, the garden is reminiscent of Kerrygold's deep connection to Irish farming.
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The garden provides shelter for native wildlife with its habitat tower made from Douglas fir, which invites birds, bees, butterflies, moths and bats to inhabit the garden.
Featuring a mix of pollinator-friendly native and non-native perennials and grasses to encourage biodiversity and plant reproduction.
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Many of the plants were grown by the designers themselves in County Limerick, grounding the project in authentic Irish soil.
In creating a show garden at this year's Bord Bia Bloom, Kerrygold is expressing its brand purpose.
That is to inspire moments of simple pleasure along life's journey by celebrating the natural Irish landscape, rich biodiversity, and the grass-fed roots that have shaped the quality and character of its dairy from the very beginning.
In addition to the garden, Kerrygold will also be giving away 60,000 samples of its famous butter and cream cheese offering visitors a true taste of its grass-fed goodness.
As a keen gardener himself, Peter said: 'As someone who loves their garden at home, it's a pleasure to see what Kerrygold and the design team have created for their garden at Bord Bia Bloom.
"I particularly love the habitat tower, inviting birds, bees and bats to the space. It's given me loads of ideas to crack on with.'
Jessica gave a nod to the iconic butter yellow of Kerrygold butter, with her choice of outfit from Irish designer Aoife McNamara.
The look is from Aoife's SS25 collection, Otherland, inspired by the mythical dreamscape of Tír na nÒg.
She hailed: "I love working with Irish designers who share the same passion for Irish culture and sustainability that I have.
"As butter yellow is the colour of the season I could think of no better pairing than Kerrygold and Aoife McNamara to honour the Nature Wrapped in Gold garden at Bord Bia Bloom this year.'