3 days ago
Bord Bia's Bloom attracts 100,000 visitors over five day festival
Bord Bia's annual Bloom festival, held annually over the June Bank Holiday weekend, attracted 100,000 visitors this year according to figures released on its concluding day (Monday, June 2).
The gardening and food festival which takes place each year in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, was originally launched to promote plants, garden design, horticulture and gardening.
However over nearly two decades Bord Bia has developed the festival to also create a food and drink experience and promote learning experiences in gardening, growing fruit and vegetables, cooking and culture.
Jim O'Toole, Bord Bia's chief executive, believes the festival now has an 'enduring popularity'.
He added: 'Bloom 2025 has been a fantastic success — we welcomed wonderful crowds over the five days, enjoyed mostly favourable weather, and the atmosphere throughout the show has been incredibly positive.
'As we wrap up this year's event, excitement is already building for a very special milestone: Bord Bia Bloom's 20th anniversary in 2026.'
Bloom
Two of the key themes of each Bord Bia Bloom festival are sustainability and waste reduction and many elements of the 2025 show and feature gardens will be relocated follwing the event.
The Grass Advantage garden – designed by Robert Moore and sponsored by the National Dairy Council Source Bord Bia
Every element of the Grass Advantage garden, designed by Robert Moore and sponsored by the National Dairy Council 'will be reused, replanted, or repurposed' after the festival.
According to Bord Bia the alder, hazel and field maple trees will be rehomed in a woodland setting in Wicklow while the weathered corrugated steel will return to dairy shed in Stamullen, County Meath.
The milk churn structure will be reused as a focal point in a community garden, and the stone walls and stone-pave paving will be reused in a community allotment.
Meanwhile the Estate's Essence garden, designed by Patrik Weisser and sponsored by Abbeyleix House and Farm, will be brought back to Abbeyleix House and Farm in County Laois where they will be used to build on the gardens at the estate.
Awards
As part of the celebrations to mark the final day of the festival two awards were also unveiled today including the People's Choice Award, voted for by visitors who chose their favourite show garden.
This year it was awarded to Tulsa's 'Fostering is for You' garden designed by Pip Probert. Meanwhile Bloom garden designers also get a chance to vote on their favourite garden and this year the Designer's Choice Award was presented to Louise Checa who designed the gold medal winning Citroen Downsizers' Garden.
Bord Bia has also confirmed today that Bloom 2026 will take place from Thursday, May 28 to Monday, June 1.
