Latest news with #BloomFestival
The Irish Sun
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Stunning job' – Gardening-mad Peter O'Mahony blown away by Dublin Bloom Festival as it opens to visitors
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. 4 O'Mahony will be retiring from rugby once Munster's run in the URC play-offs comes to a close Credit: @peteomahony 4 He recommended anyone with a passion for gardening to head out to Phoenix Park over the long weekend Credit: @peteomahony 4 Wife Jessica has also come onboard in promoting Kerrygold's involvement in it 4 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. Read More On Irish Sport 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. Most read in Rugby Union 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. 'Jack Crowley he's coming for you' jokes Peter O'Mahony's wife Jess as son practices his rugby skills 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.'
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
The rise of poitín: Ireland's notorious spirit goes mainstream
We've all heard stories about the infamous poitín makers in remote pockets of Ireland. They usually involve someone's uncle's mate's cousin, a clandestine meeting in the dead of night and possibly a bag of turf, followed by an evening of shenanigans fit for a Christy Moore tune. Stories like this have led to an almost mythical status for a drink that is, at its core, an Irish take on clear, unaged spirit, not a million miles from vodka - although definitely not the same. This status was definitely helped by the fact that poitín production and sale was illegal between the years of 1661 and 1997 (with a slight loosening of the laws in the 1980s, but only for export), but since it was legalised, these stories have been a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the very mention of poitín invokes a kind of mysterious and shadowy world that is undeniably cool and appeals to the Irish love of outlaws and rule-benders. On the other, a reputation for being a dangerous drink that can lead to all sorts of unpleasantness has perhaps made it a little difficult to market effectively. Reputation aside, the last decade or so has seen a resurgence of sorts for whiskey's wayward younger sibling, with distillers putting their own spin on this misunderstood liquor, and premium poitíns coming out of producers like Mad March Hare, Blackwater, Micil and Fore Distillery. In fact, all four of these will have a presence at this year's Bloom Festival, which is a sure sign that mainstream is just about ready to embrace poitín. In addition, long-time poitín advocate Oisín Davis will be hosting poitín parties at Ballymaloe Food Festival and Beyond The Pale later this year, after successful events in Galway, Dublin and New York over the last few months. So it's a drink on the rise, but… How do you drink it? Well, it is, of course, perfectly reasonable to sip a decent poitín on its own, but if you fancy getting a bit more adventurous with it, mixologists across Ireland have been experimenting and refining all manner of delicious serves using poitín as a base. Notable examples include the fantastic Belfast Coffee, from Dublin's Bar 1661, which uses Bán Poitín, and Cask Cork's Little Pot, which uses Mad March Hare. Here are a couple of delicious poitín cocktails that you can make at home, courtesy of Oisín Davis' Irish Kitchen Cocktails, which is a must-have book for any serious home bartender. Frozen Poitín Piña Colada Even if you're not mad about getting caught in the rain, these frozen piña coladas, which use poitín instead of the traditional rum, will bring a hint of sunshine to your BBQ, cocktail party or quiet Friday night in. Ingredients: Method: Pour the pineapple juice, poitín, coconut cream and lime juice into a blender (NutriBullet works nicely). Blitz for 10 seconds to combine, then drop in the ice. Blitz for another 3-5 seconds until the ice is no longer chunky and it's the consistency of a slushie. Pour into a glass, serve with a straw and garnish with pineapple. Serves 1 The house cocktail at Bar 1661 - if you haven't tried one there, you really, really should. You can buy it pre-mixed from their website, but if you fancy having a crack at it yourself this chilled spin on the Irish coffee is an absolute treat. Ideally, you'd use a Georgian Irish coffee glass for this, but a small wine glass will work as well. Chill the glass with ice. For the demerara sugar syrup, take 2 parts sugar to 1 part boiling water, mix until the sugar is completely dissolved. You can make a batch of this ahead of time and it'll keep in the fridge for a week. Combine the coffee, sugar syrup and poitín into a jug or a jar of ice cubes and stir for about 20 seconds. Strain the coffee mixture into the glass, making sure not to get any of the ice cubes in there. Carefully pour the cream into the glass, using the back of a spoon to help it settle on top of the coffee, and then grate a little nutmeg on top. Serves 1
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘It's given me loads of ideas' – Retiring Peter O'Mahony lands new gig as Munster hero eyes up post-rugby life
PETER O'Mahony may not be retired quite yet, but he's already landed a new gig that's "given me loads of ideas to crack on with". He and wife Jessica have come onboard with Kerrygold's increased involvement in this year's Bord Bia Bloom Festival from May 29-June 2. 8 The couple are supporting Kerrygold's increased presence at this year's Bloom Festival 8 Peter is well-known for having green fingers 8 Spouse Jessica looked radiant in spring colours 8 The 35-year-old played his last home game on May 16 and is now embarking on a road URC play-off run For the first time ever, Kerrygold will host a 'Nature Wrapped in Gold' show garden at this year's edition. This debut deepens the brand's celebration of Irish farming, sustainability, and simple everyday pleasures. 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. Read More On Irish Sport 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. 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. Most read in Rugby Union 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. 'Jack Crowley he's coming for you' jokes Peter O'Mahony's wife Jess as son practices his rugby skills 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. Rugby legend Peter and wife Jessica were on hand to launch the Nature Wrapped in Gold Kerrygold garden at Bord Bia Bloom. 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.' 8 Savouring the beautiful surroundings provided by Kerrygold 8 Jessica wore a gorgeous outfit by Irish designer Aoife McNamara 8 We particularly love her garden-themed straw hat 8 Peter developed 'a load of ideas' for his own garden from the day out 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.' On the concept of the garden, Lynne Andrews from Ornua, owner of the Kerrygold brand outlined: 'The 'Nature Wrapped in Gold' garden brings to life everything Kerrygold stands for - natural goodness, Irish pride and the simple pleasure of food made with care. "Rooted in our grass-fed heritage, it's a golden celebration of the land that inspires us every day.' Kerrygold's connection to golden pastures and Irish farming will be encapsulated in this 'Nature Wrapped in Gold' concept garden.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Bloom festival 2025: Opening times, ticket costs, gardens to see, things to do and more
Ireland's largest gardening festival, Bloom , returns to the Phoenix Park in Dublin this weekend, marking the 19th anniversary of the event. While gardens are at the heart of Bloom, there is plenty there for everyone to enjoy. Here's all you need to know, along with some of the highlights of this year's show. Grab your sun hats (and an umbrella) ... you don't want to miss it. When is it on? This year's festival takes place across the June Bank Holiday from Thursday, May 29th to Monday, June 2nd. The event will run from 9am to 6pm each day. Where is it on? It takes place in the Phoenix Park, on a 28-hectare (70-acre) site surrounding the Visitor Centre. This can be accessed via the park's main Chesterfield Avenue Road, which runs from the Main Gate at Parkgate Street to the Castleknock Gate. [ Six easy tips for making your garden planters last all summer in Ireland ] Where can I buy tickets? Tickets for Bloom can be purchased through Ticketmaster . They cost €30 per adult and for students and senior citizens (aged 66 and over) €25 each. Tickets are only available for one day so ensure you choose the right day when purchasing. Some tickets will be available to buy on the gate but cannot be guaranteed. READ MORE Who can attend? Admission is free for two children (aged 16 and under) with one paying adult. Each additional child's ticket will cost €5. Admission is free for wheelchair users, the visually impaired and people with a disability. One accompanying carer will also receive free entry. There is disabled car parking located close to the Bloom entrances in both car parks. Dogs, unless they are guide or assistance dogs, are not permitted. How do I get there? The festival encourages visitors to take public transport where possible. By foot: It takes about 45 minutes to walk from the Parkgate Street Gate to Bloom's front entrance (Chesterfield Avenue) and about 10 minutes from the Ashtown or Cabra Gates to the rear entrance (North Road). Walking from the Castleknock Gate takes about 25 minutes. By bike: You can cycle directly to the entrance of Bloom and park and lock your bike in one of the cycle parks. By shuttle: A number of free shuttle buses will be running on a loop from Park Gate Street to the festival and back from 7am to 7pm daily. The drop-off point will be at a designated Bloom stop on Chesterfield Avenue. [ Side hustle to gold: Kerry gardener on winning medal at Chelsea Flower Show Opens in new window ] By train/Luas: If you are travelling by Dart or Intercity train into Connolly Station or by bus into Busáras, you can get on the Luas Red Line at the stops outside the stations and get off at Heuston Station. From Heuston Station, it is less than a five-minute walk to where the shuttle bus departs from Parkgate Street. If you are travelling on the Luas Green Line, which terminates at Broombridge Train Station, it is a 40-minute walk to Bloom. If getting the commuter line to Ashtown station, it is about a 20-minute walk to the festival. By bus: The 99 bus route stops outside Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park which is a 10-minute walk from the festival. You can take public buses such as routes 11, 26, 38b, 19, 99, C5 and C6 that stop on the Navan Road. You can then walk about 15 minutes to Bloom. If you are travelling on a private bus, it can park in the Papal Cross car park in the park. By car: Traffic coming from the city centre can use the Cabra Gate via Black Horse Avenue, the Main Gate to Phoenix Park and the NCR Gate. Traffic coming from the north side and the M50 can use the Castleknock Gate, Ashtown Gate, Knockmaroon Gate or the Chapelizod Gate. Once you enter the park, follow signs to the nearest car park. Parking costs €10 per day and parking passes can be purchased from Ticketmaster when purchasing your entry ticket. What will you see? With more than 300 talks, demonstrations, performances and workshops taking place at Bloom, there is plenty to keep you busy across the weekend. One of the main attractions at Bloom is the Show Gardens, which see some of the most talented designers from Ireland and overseas create spectacular gardens. This year's festival will have 21 different gardens on show, giving you with lots of inspiration for your own gardens at home. There will also be 11 Postcard gardens that have been created by amateur gardeners from community groups and schools across Ireland to showcase their local area or issues that matter to them. The winner of Bloom's Cultivating Talent programme, Sarah Cotterill, an Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at University College Dublin, will showcase her 'Into the Forest' show garden at Bloom. The Nursery Village will host large displays from 17 nurseries and floral artists to provide you with plenty of ideas for your garden space this summer. Garden designers and television presenters Diarmuid Gavin and Adam Frost will headline a busy programme of talks and discussion panels with presentations from show garden designer Leonie Cornelius, Niall McCauley of 'Niall Gardens' on YouTube, and many more. There will also be a series of 'Polytunnel Talks' from expert speakers on all aspects of kitchen gardening. The Westland Potting Shed is offering a hands-on experience for gardening newbies, experts and everything in between. Visitors will get to plant their chosen seeds, decorate their pot and learn gardening techniques to nurture their seeds into thriving plants. For little ones, the Budding Bloomers stage will host an array of children's activities across the weekend including a magical Science of Bubbles show with Scientific Sue and lessons on bees and growing your own food will be provided by Paddy Courtney. Face painters will also be in attendance at the Budding Bloomers Children's Area. If you fancy a bit of retail therapy, there are plenty of options to choose from such as, the Indoor Shopping Pavilion, the Plant Emporium, the Nursery Village, the Design and Crafts Council Ireland Irish Craft Village and many more. Where can I get something to eat? The Food Hall at Bloom's Food Village has more than 100 Irish artisan producers. The possibilities are endless from chocolate, to cheese and oysters or teas. If you are in the mood for an afternoon tipple, why not pop over to the Bloom Inn where some of Ireland's best craft brewers and distillers will be and enjoy a drink. You can watch your favourite chefs in action such as Donal Skehan, Neven Maguire, Aishling Moore and Catherine Fulvio, who are just some of the culinary stars that will take to the stage for 30 live demos across the weekend. For the real foodies, there will also be a special three-course menu experience, 'A Taste of Bloom, curated by Neven.' Tickets for the 'Taste of Bloom' package can be purchased on Ticketmaster for €79 per person and also include entry into the festival. A whole host of delicious food options will be available to cater for the whole family from The Seafood Terrace, Country Crest Restaurant or a choice of options from more than 60 food trucks. What will the weather forecast be? Met Éireann forecasts Thursday to have a range of temperatures from 14 to 20 degrees Celsius with some cloud and patchy rain. Friday will be cloudy with some scattered showers. The weather will start to brighten up on Saturday but may be followed by some possibly heavy showers. Sunday will see a mix of sunshine and showers with temperatures from 10 to 16 degrees Celsius. Monday is expected to be dry and bright with a few scattered showers. Anything else? There will be free waterpoints to refill your bottles at the event entrances, the showgardens, the Budding Bloomers area, the picnic area and in the Food Village. There will be wifi hotspots will be located across the showgrounds. If you buy any plants at Bloom, don't worry about carrying them around. Bloom has you covered with a complimentary Plant Creche where you can leave your purchases. The festival also runs a 'wheelbarrow taxi service' to help people get their purchased plants back to their car, in the Red or Green car park. You are not allowed to stay overnight at the festival. Any other information can be found at .
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Health
- Extra.ie
Kids to ‘get moving' with fun-filled fitness activities at Bloom
Fitness and fun is coming this year's Bloom Festival. The Healthy Heroes Lunch Club has launched interactive 'get moving' sessions. Supported by the Irish Bread Bakers Association (IBBA) and Bord Bia, the long-running primary school initiative is teaming up with Dearbhla Toal, aka Belle Azzure. Dearbhla Toal, aka Bella Azzure, is encouraging visitors to this year's Bloom to join her for some fun as part of Healthy Heroes Lunch Club 'get moving' sessions at the 'Budding Bloomers Kids' Zone'. Pic: Brian McEvoy The sessions will be held at the Budding Bloomers Kids' Zone on May 29 and May 30, at 10:50am and 12:10pm each day. The engaging sessions are rooted in the physical activity component of the Healthy Heroes programme, which promotes nutrition education, active lifestyles, and healthy lunchtime habits for children. Designed to get kids moving while having fun, each session is a hands-on opportunity to encourage healthier routines in a playful and energetic setting. The sessions will be held at the Budding Bloomers Kids' Zone on May 29 and May 30, at 10:50am and 12:10pm each day. Pic: Brian McEvoy Now in its 11th year, the Healthy Heroes Club continues to make an impact in schools across Ireland. 'I am thrilled to partner with the Healthy Heroes Lunch Club supported by the IBBA and Bord Bia, to host these fun kids' movement sessions at the Budding Bloomers Kids' Zone at Bloom,' said Dearbhla Toal. 'The importance of movement, exercise and nutrition is something I am passionate about and for me it is essential to education children around the benefits of a healthy and balanced approach to nutrition and fitness. At home, I encourage my children to get moving through fun activities and we all as a family feel the benefits.' 'I look forward to meeting all the children at the Budding Bloomers Kids' Zone and would invite visitors to Bloom to come along to the sessions to have some fun and get moving'.
