Latest news with #GaryKirwan
Irish Examiner
5 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
6 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 Times
28-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Bloom festival: Putting the finishing touches on show gardens with a message
'At one point, I was 60 stone and I was a lock-in. I was at the worst point in my life,' says Gary Kirwan. The 44-year-old, who is on the autism spectrum, 'didn't go anywhere at the time' but found a 'safe place' in Lego while his mental health was suffering. It was not until his wife, Michelle, convinced him to showcase his Lego work at an exhibition in his native Co Limerick that he got 'back out into the world', he says. 'You couldn't see light at the end of the tunnel at that stage, and it has just turned his life around,' Michelle says. READ MORE Now, seven years later, Mr Kirwan has lost 27 stone and is one of 21 designers who will showcase a garden at Bloom . He has been working 'morning, noon and night' on the project for eight weeks. It features plants, flowers and compost entirely made from Lego. 'I want everyone to look it and be like 'wow' but I really want kids to look at it and think, 'I can make that.'' The gardens on display vary in size and complexity, with some seeking to show apartment inhabitants or downsizers it is possible to create an outdoor haven from a small space. 'You can garden in the tiniest of spaces,' says Cornelia Raftery, who designed The Pink Lady Balcony, a sustainable, bee-friendly balcony garden. 'I've lived in London for most of my life and I was lucky to have a patch out back but I've always gardened.' Garden designer Pip Probert and Tusla foster carer Sandra Wogan in Tusla's Fostering Is For You garden at Bloom. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times Other gardens seek to raise awareness or act as tributes, including Tusla's Fostering Is For You garden, designed by Pip Probert . Children and teenagers in foster care, as well as foster carers, have contributed to the design which features a graffiti wall littered with hand prints, surrounded by unmanicured planting of various colours and sizes. The garden pays tribute to the fostering community and aims to entice others to consider joining, with Jacqui Smyth, Tusla's national foster care lead, saying passersby at Bloom in past years have gone on to do so. Joe Eustace, a 23-year-old from Co Kildare who is showcasing at his third Bloom festival, designed The Support Garden on behalf of the Decision Support Service . Mr Eustace sought to create a contemporary, safe and calming environment to encourage conversations surrounding advance planning, which can be an 'intimidating' subject to approach, he says. Advance planning encompasses areas including enduring powers of attorney and healthcare directives. 'Advance planning is an elephant in the room for a lot of people. I built the garden with my dad – he's the main contractor – and it would be a hard conversation to have with him, and a lot of people would be in the same boat,' he says. Martha (5) and Robyn (9) Lyons in the Kerrygold Nature Wrapped in Gold garden designed by Ailish Drake and Conor Hourigan. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times Mr Eustace used planting to create a 'cocoon' to create an intimate one-on-one space, while a metaphor of support is woven throughout via a steel network which overlooks the garden. The steel frames support a floating central fireplace which represents the person at the centre of the conversation, he says. 'They're supported even if they can't support themselves,' he says. Corrugated steel, which represents age, acts as a backdrop, he says. 'It's purposefully at the backdrop because people think advance planning is something that's far away but age is something we need to think about. 'We're all only going in one direction and everyone's going to have to confront it eventually,' he says. Organisers expect more than 100,000 people to attend this year's festival, which runs until Monday. President Michael D Higgins is set to officially open the event on Thursday, making what will be his last speech as the festival's patron, with Bloom insiders expecting him to 'go out with a bang'.
