Latest news with #BordBiaBloom2025
Agriland
3 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Watch: Manor farm celebrates 250 years in business at Bloom
Manor Farm is celebrating its 250th year in business this summer, with a specially designed garden at the Bord Bia Bloom 2025 festival. The garden is called 'Manor Farm – 250 Years of Taste and Tradition', and has been developed by award-winning landscape designer Tunde Perry. Manor Farm CEO, Cathal Garvey The garden tells the story of Manor Farm through thoughtful planting, historical references and sustainable design. CEO of Manor Farm, Cathal Garvey told Agriland: 'We're 250 years old this year, the oldest food company in Ireland. It's a significant milestone. A good bit of work has gone into this. 'The key thing for us, we are invested in sustainability in Manor Farm. We are going to relocate this garden up to Shercock where we're based.' 'This company has evolved in so many ways over the last 250 years. When you go through the history it's absolutely fascinating. We are basically doing 1 million chickens a week. There is nobody in Ireland who hasn't eaten some of our chicken,' Garvey added. Manor Farm Visitors enter the garden through a train track inspired path, which is made from recycled railway sleepers. The path symbolises the time when live chickens were shipped unaccompanied by train to Dublin markets in the 18th and 19th centuries. The garden also contains a biodiverse landscape with a wildflower meadow, native trees and shrubs as well as a regenerative oat and wheat field, a nod to both farming roots and a sustainable future. A water feature symbolises the company's home in Co. Cavan, known for its 365 lakes. At the heart of the garden, is 'Manor Street', a creative copper and metal sculpture echoing the original urban market setting. A small café-style table invites visitors to pause and reflect. The garden also features sensory planting, including hazel, elder, hawthorn, birch and fragrant herbs, linked to Manor Farm recipes via QR codes. A colour palette of blues and yellows subtly pays tribute to Manor Farm's Swedish ownership under the Scandi Standard Group.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Colin Sheridan: Bloom is the crowning jewel of our capital city
Ah, Bloom! That annual horticultural hootenanny where the scent of freshly turned soil mingles with the aroma of artisan sausage rolls, and where the only thing more abundant than the flora is the flurry of floppy hats. This year, Bord Bia Bloom 2025 blossomed once again in Dublin's Phoenix Park, transforming 70 acres into a veritable Eden of eco-consciousness, culinary delights, and enough garden gnomes to march on the Aras and stage a coup. The earth laughs in flowers, so said Ralph Waldo Emerson, yesterday, it was in stitches. First, an admission of guilt. As a novice, the name of this festival confused me. Bloomsday falls on June 16 each year. That celebration of Joycean pomp is no relation to Bord Bia Bloom, but the timing and title caught me a little off guard. Were there enough Ulysses nuts to warrant a five-day celebration in the largest public park in any capital city in Europe? No, it turns out, there isn't. Which is a relief. This is something else entirely. It's reductive to compare festivals — each lives and dies on its own merits — but given the scale and logistical footprint of Bloom, the National Ploughing Festival is an obvious and worthy inspiration for Irelands premier gardening and horticultural festival. Beginning on Thursday and running throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, Bloom will have attracted over 120,000 punters through its gates by the time the last tent is collapsed on Monday. If the ploughing is Glastonbury, Bloom is Electric Picnic. The setting is majestic and the mood more than a little mischievous. The variety on display from the moment you enter is so rich it'd make a willow weep. Puns aside, Bloom means business. I'm no sooner in the gate but I'm watching the Ballymaloe crew do a cooking demo on the Dunnes Stores stage. Chef Neven Maguire is hanging in the wings signing autographs like he's a member of Metallica. Maisie Carton, aged 15, from Dundrum, was prepared for moody weather in the Phoenix Park. Picture: Moya Nolan If there are politicians about, they are keeping a low profile. The weather, too, is appropriate; wet on Thursday, Friday brings dark clouds broken up by brilliant sunshine. Good gardening weather, right? Weather so rich you can feel the grass grow beneath your feet. Excited school kids follow patient teachers like mini climbers trailing their sherpa. Grownups who should know better sip Aperol spritz from recyclable plastic cups. With a taste of summer already lingering in the back of our throats, the timing of Bloom could not be more apposite. The heart of the festival lies in its show gardens — 21 verdant visions ranging from the sublime to the surreal. Take, for instance, the 'Make A Wish Foundation Garden' by Linda McKeown, a space so enchanting it could make a grown man weep into his compost. Then there's the 'GRÁ' garden by Kathryn Feeley for Dogs Trust, a canine-centric paradise where even the shrubs seem to wag their leaves in approval. Not to be outdone, the 'Tusla Fostering Garden' by Pip Probert offers a vibrant tapestry of colours and textures, symbolising the diverse journeys of foster families. Bloom, though, is not just about seasoned green thumbs; it's also a fertile ground for budding gardening superstars. The 'Cultivating Talent' initiative, now in its third year, continues to nurture and showcase the next generation of garden designers. This year's standout is Dr Sarah Cotterill — an assistant professor at UCD — whose 'Into the Woods' garden pays homage to Ireland's Atlantic rainforests, proving that even civil engineers can have a soft spot for ferns. Billy Alexander of Kells Bay House and Gardens in Kerry brought his Chelsea Flower Show-winning fern garden to Bloom. Picture: Moya Nolan For those of us whose idea of gardening involves little more ingenuity than picking herbs for a G&T, the Food Village offers enough distraction to fill a day. I unwittingly followed one chap who easily reached his daily calorie quota by exclusively eating free samples. It was an admirably frugal tactic, if a tad unnecessary. Unlike other festivals, the food was ample and reasonably priced. The village — which features nearly 100 Irish producers — is a smorgasbord of local delights. I'd eaten two gourmet burgers and a hot dog before lunchtime. Not every day in the trenches is like this, and this one-man army marches on its stomach. The food stages are accessible and unfussy — culinary luminaries like Neven, Darina Allen, and Fiona Uyema are on hand to whip up some dishes that would make an intermittent faster reconsider their life choices. The atmosphere is collegiate, the food divine. Sure, there are plenty of healthy options on display, too, but Bloom is not the space to suddenly become precious. There is lots of cream and butter, and the fun and food police are conspicuous in their absence. A key theme running throughout the festival is sustainability, with the Sustainable Living Stage hosting 40 talks on topics ranging from food waste to natural skincare hacks. The festival walked the walk — quite literally — by offering free shuttle buses, ample bicycle parking, and ensuring all food and drink packaging was compostable or recyclable. There were even volunteers on hand at each bin to advise you on what goes where. Keen not to take itself too seriously, Bloom isn't just for the horticulturally inclined; it's a family affair. The Budding Bloomers area offered a range of activities for the young and the young at heart, from bug workshops to interactive performances. Chef Tricia Lewis giving a cookery demonstration to a crew of hungry festivalgoers. Picture: Moya Nolan For those looking to bring a piece of Bloom home, the Grand Pavilion and Plant Emporium offered everything from handcrafted garden sculptures to rare plant species. It's the kind of place where you go in for a packet of seeds and come out with a bonsai tree and a newfound appreciation for macrame rope. In its 19th year, Bord Bia Bloom continues to be a testament to Ireland's love affair with all things green and growing. It's a safe, creative space where gardeners, foodies, and families converge to celebrate the simple joys of nature, nourishment, and community. In a time when the deforestation of the island is a hot topic, Bloom offers an antidote to the doom and gloom that can sometimes suffocate green-adjacent conversations. The jewel of the crown of this festival, however, is not any one of the celebrity gardeners, chefs or even Juniperus Communis on display. It's not even the extra-mature cheeses, of which I consumed quite a few. No, it is unquestionably the venue. The Phoenix Park frames this event and makes it a masterpiece, a celebration of nature its creators and organisers can absolutely be proud of. Verdant and resplendent, the vastness of the park itself makes access and egress easy. The walled gardens within the festival compound act as a spine for a sprawl that is beautifully organised, but never contrived. Great oak trees provide shelter from the infrequent showers. The grass acts as a quilt to lie on and bask in the brilliant sunshine. Just outside the fence, a herd of fallow deer skip by, as if curious about the din inside. There is a lot wrong with our capital city, and, understandably, we spend plenty of time talking about it. Bloom is an example of something done incredibly right. A festival of nature, food, colour, and life, hosted in a public park at an incredibly reasonable price. Accessible to everybody, and not a Joycean scholar in sight.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Inside Out: From a Lego garden to a paint colour called Fairy Fort
We love Lego The sky's the limit to ideas for the green-fingered and the green-minded at Bord Bia Bloom 2025. Talking about this year's designs, judge Andrew Wilson said: 'Visitors to Bloom will have a ball visiting the show gardens and are guaranteed to get some great ideas to take home.' We can see why. The Rainbow Brick Balcony Garden, designed by Gary Kirwan and sponsored by Brick Shows Ireland. Picture: Fennell The overall concept garden winner was The Rainbow Brick Balcony Garden, designed by Limerick artist Gary Kirwan, as a tribute to Lego. Playful and unique, this garden is constructed from over 800,000 pieces over eight weeks. James Purdy in his Large Show Garden-winning design. Eight gold medals were awarded to show garden designers at the Bord Bia festival. The overall large garden category award went to the Repak Most Sorted Garden, by James Purdy and the medium garden category award was presented to The European Commission's 'Renewed Blooms' Garden, designed by David Negus. All 21 show gardens are designed with sustainability in mind. The small garden winner, The Pot Gallery Garden, designed by Alan Rudden, demonstrates how freestanding and vertical pots can create green spaces on terraces, roofs or balconies. See Bordbiabloom. Singout stripes Stripes stride centre stage this summer with Colourtrend's playful twist on a timeless classic. The interiors stories behind each were 'inspired by the warmth and vibrancy of an Irish summer'. One particular shade — and its name — is beguiling. See how Fairy Fort is used on the skirting board and door frames in this farmhouse-style hallway setup, contrasting with Roux White. Colourtrend's Fairy Fort and Roux White. Maybe I'm drawn to it because my childhood home was just downhill from a fairy fort.... In any case, this colour creates an entrance (portal — why not go full-on Darby O'Gill and the Little People?) that balances rustic and modern. See, where stripes really sing is when adding structure and visual rhythm to any zone. Talking of zones — and music — anyone for a Twilight Zone theme tune remix with Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill' from the Netflix cult classic Stranger Things? Anyone? Daddy cool Finding the perfect Father's Day gift for the special man in your life doesn't have to be a daunting task, according to Woodie's. If your father figure takes pride in lush lawns or relishes doing DIY jobs (or simply 'kicking the tyres' of toolkits), there's plenty of choice. Stanley Fatmax open tote toolbag, Woodie's. We're taken by the Stanley Fatmax 18-inch open-tote tool bag, down to €39.99, and previously priced at €48.99. See Woodies. Pot luck This warm-toned planter with ornate details is made from high-quality terracotta, and we're a little obsessed. It's a timeless piece that adds a cosy vibe. Oriana B's oval porcelain planter, €89. The planter is also a good pick for the cook in your life as it's ideal for herbs — pop on a kitchen windowsill or anywhere sunny, and it instantly brings a touch of Mediterranean charm to your home. This plant pot is intended for internal use. It's €89, see Orianab. Ready for their close-up They've been putting faces and places in the picture for a quarter of a century and continue to dazzle with their visual flair. So, we're excited here at Home to learn that East Cork Camera Group will be showcasing a stunning collection of images this summer for its landmark 25th anniversary exhibition at My Place, Mill Road, Midleton, from June 6 to June 25. From left, clockwise, photographs by Anthony O'Connor, Maria Murray and Michael Hickey. The not-to-be-missed display will be launched at the venue on June 6, 7pm-9pm. The club provides a platform for photographers of all levels, from novice to professional, to come together to share their knowledge and improve their skills. Clockwise from left, photos by Kevin Day, Grainne Davies and Jim O'Neill. Members of the club have access to workshops, competitions, guest speakers and photography outings; see Space age A neutral base including limewashed plaster walls and light wooden furniture complements a bold and abstract palette of oranges and greens. The soft undertones of Havwoods' Douglas Fir Snow Select 300mm one-strip boards sit perfectly against the earthy tones, introducing light and a sense of space. Havwoods flooring. The wide planks (so trendy), span the length of the property, allowing for a seamless flow from the living room into the kitchen. Price on application; see Havwoods. Read More Jennifer Sheahan: Find the perfect sofas and armchairs for a tiny home
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Bord Bia Bloom: Sustainability is a winner at this year's festival
Gardens highlighting the importance of recycling, repurposing, and the circular economy scooped two of the top prizes at this year's Bord Bia Bloom. All of the 21 show gardens showcased at this year's festival, which kicked off at Dublin's Phoenix Park from Thursday, were designed to incorporate environmental measures and with sustainability in mind. However, the competition's judges said the Repak Most Sorted Garden, which secured the large garden category award, and the medium garden category winner, the European Commission's 'Renewed Blooms' Garden, conveyed "particularly strong sustainability messages for visitors to take home". TV host and food writer Donal Skehan and sustainable living advocate Eimear Hutchinson at the Repak Most Sorted Garden which won the large garden category at Bord Bia Bloom 2025. Picture: Fintan Clarke/Creative Coalesce The judges said David Purdy's winning design in the former category showed that waste "is not an inevitability but a design flaw; one that can be solved through thoughtful recycling and regeneration". They also said that the design by David Negus in the latter category, embodied "EU circular economy principles by repurposing materials and blending nature with human-made elements". Percussionists Patrick Lynch and Caitriona Frost with artist 'Decoy' at the European Commission's Renewed Blooms garden which won the medium garden category at Bord Bia Bloom. Picture: Chris Bellew/Fennell The top award in the small garden category went to the Pot Gallery Garden and its designer Alan Rudden which, the judges said, demonstrated how "freestanding and vertical pots can green spaces such as terraces, roofs or balconies". The overall concept garden winner was the Rainbow Brick Balcony Garden, designed by Limerick artist Gary Kirwan as a tribute to Lego. Designer Gary Kirwan from Limerick won the overall concept garden category at Bloom 2025 with his Rainbow Brick Balcony Garden, a tribute to Lego. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins The judges described this garden, constructed from over 800,000 individual pieces over a period of eight weeks as, "playful and unique". The garden itself will be reused at family-oriented events run by Brick Shows Ireland around the country in the coming weeks and months. A total of 19 medals, including eight gold medals, were awarded to show gardens in advance of the official opening of opening of the event by President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina on Thursday. Festival-goers take cover as the rain pours down on the opening day of the 2025 Bord Bia Bloom at the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Commenting on the standard of this year's designs, chief garden judge, Andrew Wilson, said that each year of the event, "the quality of the show gardens steps up an extra notch". "The judging panel has been delighted by the range of ideas, the creativity, and the quality of the gardens this year," he said. "It's especially great to see sustainable ideas at the fore. We are seeing this with recycling, the choice of planting, and the reuse and repurposing of materials throughout the gardens." Future farmers Trish Halpin from Knocklong NS, Co Limerick and Emily Lambes, from St Patricks NS, Ballinagore, Co Westmeath, at the National Dairy Council garden at Bord Bia Bloom in the Phoenix Park. Picture: Robbie Reynolds Mr Wilson added that any visitors to this year's event would be "guaranteed to get some great ideas to take home". Bord Bia chief executive Jim O'Toole congratulated all the medal winners whose creativity and expertise, he said, had been "justly rewarded". "Now the public can appreciate their inspiring horticulture displays over the next five days. We have an action-packed schedule ahead with something for everyone, including over 300 performances and demonstrations across seven stages," he added. President Michael D Higgins presented 19 medals including eight gold medals on the opening day of Bord Bia Bloom at the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Now in its 19th year, the festival continues across the June weekend until the bank holiday Monday. "Visitors can pick-up gardening tips and tricks, advice on sustainable living; and try the best of Irish food and drink.' More than 100,000 people are expected to attend this year's Bord Bia Bloom festival, which concludes on Monday, June 2.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘A disgrace and a slander' - President Higgins on critics of Netanyahu's policies being labelled antisemitic
Speaking at Bord Bia Bloom 2025 in what will be his last time as Ireland's president, he called for immediate action to help the starving people of Gaza. President Higgins, who visited Gaza in 2006, was heavily critical of the inaction of some other nations, given Israel's heavy-handed military tactics on a nation enduring starvation and famine-like conditions. 'There are nine countries still holding back on even a ceasefire. What is happening in Gaza at the moment? Well the nation's 81pc of people have been displaced,' he told the Irish Independent. 'They have been put into temporary accommodation that is being bombed. Their soil is being destroyed, their hospitals have been bombed.' He spoke about the unfairness that if someone spoke out against Israel's stance on Gaza and the Palestinians, they were labelled antisemitic. He and others naturally condemned the October 7 2023 attacks by Hamas but 'if you criticise President Netanyahu's policies, you are then described as being antisemitic'. 'That is a disgrace and a slander. And it has been a slander against Ireland, against individuals, including myself, people who have worked all their lives in relation to human rights activity,' he said. He also alleged that a 'propaganda campaign against Ireland is now active in the United States'. 'So that when we are seeking to have meetings with people interested in investing in Ireland, they are being contacted in advance with suggestions saying, 'You must open by asking (them), 'Why is Ireland so against the United States' position on Israel?'' He referenced his recent speech at the National Famine Commemoration in Limerick's Kilmallock. He spoke at the time about the failures of the UN Security Council and said it was time for the UN General Assembly to step in. ADVERTISEMENT 'If the Security Council doesn't act, the General Assembly can have special measures for peace. It can have a special session and it can over-ride the security council,' he said. 'And in fact contrary to what has been said - that this has only been used in the case of Korea – it has been used 11 times. And now is the time. Today is the day for food and medical aid and water to be made available and I salute all those who are trying to do that.' He also spoke about the controversial US and Israeli-backed aid group, the Gaza Aid Foundation, whose chief Jake Wood resigned this week. 'Its head has resigned because he has said he cannot work with an agency that's not in accordance with international law, that militarises aid and so on,' he said. He also said there was little hope of the Gazans being able to produce their own food in the near future. 'You have to remember the devastation being imposed on the Palestinian people by rendering the land of Gaza unusable. Figures show that nearly 80pc of it cannot produce food again,' he said.
