Tipperary food and drink producers in line-up for Ireland’s largest floral, food and family festival

Ireland’s favourite festival of flowers, food and fun, Bord Bia Bloom, returns to the Phoenix Park, Dublin, this June Bank Holiday weekend, from Thursday June 1 – Monday June 5, with another vibrant mix of thought-provoking show gardens, delicious local food and interactive entertainment for visitors of all ages.

Local Clonmel community group, Substance Misuse Service, along with food companies Cooleeny Farm from Moyne, O’Donnell’s Crisps from Clonmel and Borrisoleigh Bottling Company will be among those featured at this year’s event.

In addition to the 22 small, medium, and large show gardens and feature gardens at the heart of the show, garden enthusiasts will also find plenty of inspiration in the ever-popular Postcard Gardens feature.

Included this year will be The Colour Purple – A Journey of Substance Misuse Recovery, from Tipperary. 

The Colour Purple Postcard Garden has been developed by service users in recovery at the Substance Misuse Service – Social and Therapeutic Horticulture Programme in Clonmel. It portrays life stories and lived experiences, where the service user absorbs the evolution of knowledge and a willingness to embrace the light.

This garden encapsulates a substance misuse journey of recovery, depicted from left to right in the planting scheme. It illustrates a pathway of discovery on the journey of social and therapeutic horticulture.

While this involves hard work, physical activity, and learning, there is always time for a cup of tea. 

Bord Bia expect to welcome more than 100,000 visitors to the show over five action-packed days.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s event, Jim O’Toole, CEO, Bord Bia said, “Bord Bia Bloom was created to offer a world-class, uplifting and engaging showcase for Irish horticulture, food and drink. Now in its 17th year, the show provides an invaluable platform to highlight important societal issues such as climate change, sustainable production and health and wellbeing.

"We are proud to see how Bloom has evolved into a unique festival experience, with nature and sustainable living at its heart, while also continuing to offer our horticulture, food and drink clients the opportunity to showcase their latest products and innovations”.