Bloom Review Day 2: It's business as usual!

Bloom Day 2 Review – Sinead & Aliçia Kavanagh, The Bloom Girls

We’re home! Everyone has settled in nicely and it’s almost business as usual

After the two-year hiatus, we all wondered what Bloom 2022 was going to look like. There were murmurings of a few changes. With so many variables that could impact its success, for us as regular attendees we really hoped things like Brexit, the pandemic, and the current crisis in Ukraine, would not adversely affect the format, the content or the experience.

The Bloom Girls POV

We’re happy to say that things ‘feel’ very much ‘business as usual’. The layout is pretty much the same apart from the nurseries being outside now. We did wonder how that would work out, especially in terms of exhibitors being able to access stock and watering etc., but so far so good, it seems to be working.

There were a couple of little things we noticed that might have caused a few hiccups for some, but we always try to get some answers when we hear questions coming up and there’s a bit of confusion. This year’s map did mention the baby changing facilities, but the actual location was missing from the map. We enquired and found out that one is in the Food Village next to the Food market and to the left of the Quality Kitchen stage. The other is seemingly in the Kids Zone near the Green Carpark entrance. Now a visit there this afternoon, didn’t locate it but perhaps we just missed it. We will be checking that out again on Saturday morning because we like to make sure people have that sort of information.

For those with wheelchairs and buggies, remember that the site is largely green space, so some areas do get a bit muddy and soft. The facilities crew are doing their level best to ensure there is additional top dressing used, to keep underfoot comfortable but it might be best to use the tracks and permanent footpaths were possible. There are ramps into and out of the various pavilions so that means accessibility is very much a feature of the planning for the event, which is great. Inclusiveness is very important.

Food

Interestingly, we overheard a conversation this afternoon about the fact that for those who are vegetarian or vegan, the food courts and areas might be a challenge as the smell of burgers, spit roast and bbq is very much in the air, all day. Having said that there are so many food choices no matter what your preference is, you will be hard pushed not to find something to ‘stop the hangry’ descending!

Retail

Retail today was very busy. So much on offer, everything from hotel stays to seaweed (another Meath connection, The Seaweed Skin Company), patio furniture to soft furnishing, clothing, shoes, jewellery, garden accessories, leatherwork, cosmetics and well, the list could go on. We even noticed an O’Neill’s store onsite which we’ve only ever seen at the Ploughing Championships as a rule. Also on the retail side of things, there are lots of gardening related products available for sale, as well as kiddie toys and crafts.

Craft Village

The Irish Artists Blacksmiths Association are back again in the Craft Village. They have a slightly more sheltered spot this year, close to the footpath from the Food Village, into the street market.

As always, these amazing artists, craft workers and forgers are demonstrating their methods and techniques throughout the day at Bloom. The work they have available to sale, is incredible with everything from pendants to park gates and all that is in between. It’s a feature of Bloom that we are always drawn to, as much for the artistry as the engineering. Similarly, the wood turners in the Craft Village, are equally as impressive, with beautiful pieces on view and demonstrations ongoing. Clare O’Connor and Siobhan Daly both from Co. Meath are two of over 15 craft workers exhibiting as part of DCCI – Design & Craft Council of Ireland. A couple of our favourites so far, but not in full, are Olannmor, Pauline Quigley Glass Design and of course the Irish Artists Blacksmiths Association. There are demonstrations daily, so check out the listing in the Craft Village and make it a date.

Kids’ Zone

We’ll be honest and say we’re a bit disappointed about the Kids’ Zone this year. Don’t take it wrong, there are some fantastic exhibitors and activities that are perfect for the little ones, it’s just the ‘Little Bloomers’ element is starkly absent. As plant lovers and gardeners, we miss this – perhaps because of our own Bloom memories but as Aliçia mentioned in a radio interview yesterday, that is at the heart of her childhood memories of coming to Bloom.

The always entertaining Paddy Courtney is there and is showing the children how to plant and grow. He has a daily demo at 3pm but the get-stuck-in element is missing as there are no raised beds for little hands to practice planting into. There are also no hens (avian flu casualties) or any other animals and the ride-on tractors and trailers are missing.

The green and yellow of the John Deere is a sadly absent. We are delighted to see our friend Scientific Sue is back and her STEM based demonstrations are a massive hit with kids and grown-ups alike. She has four shows daily at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. Johnny McGory is also in situ provide storytelling and all sorts of other fun for the little visitors. The Kids’ Zone is located beside the Green Carpark Entrance.