Five Meath medals at Bloom
Three medals were awarded to Meath nurseries, while two medals were awarded to local floral artists at Bord Bia Bloom 2025.
Gold medals were awarded to Boyne Garden Centre & Nursery in Slane, and Riverlane Nursery in Trim, while Elmgrove Flower Farm in Gormanston received a silver gilt.
Yvette Bloomfield, of Trim Floral Art was awarded a bronze medal by the Association of Irish Floral Artists (AOIFA) for her seasonal splendour arrangement, while a Botanical and Floral Art bronze medal went to Olga Byrne from Mornington for for her Hydrangea, Floral/watercolour.
Bloom 2025 was officially opened by President Michael D Higgins this morning and continues for five days, concluding on Monday, 2nd June.
Speaking as he offically opened this year's festival, President Higgins said: "Bloom is, year upon year, an uplifting and inspiring celebration of the role of nature and the importance of biodiversity in our lives, a vibrant event that reflects our nation’s challenge of recovering, deepening and celebrating its relationship with nature, with food, with sustainability, and with one another on our shared, precious planet."
Two show gardens highlighting the importance of recycling, repurposing and the circular economy were awarded best large and best medium gardens at Bord Bia Bloom 2025.
The overall large garden category award went to the Repak Most Sorted Garden, designed by James Purdy and the overall medium garden category award was presented to The European Commission’s ‘Renewed Blooms’ Garden, designed by David Negus.
All 21 show gardens showcased at this year's festival are designed with sustainability in mind and incorporate environmental measures; however, these two gardens particularly convey strong sustainability messages for visitors to take home.
A total of 19 medals, including eight gold medals, were awarded to show gardens in advance of the show opening to the public this morning.
Speaking on the opening morning, Jim O’Toole, Bord Bia Chief Executive said: “After months of hard work and planning, we are delighted to welcome our first visitors here this morning. I would like to congratulate all the medal winners whose creativity and expertise has 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. Visitors can pick-up gardening tips and tricks, advice on sustainable living; and try the best of Irish food and drink.”
Among the show gardens at this years's Bloom is the garden designed by the 2025 Super Garden winner Debbie Brophy, who transformed a garden in Baker Hall, Navan, in the latest series of the popular RTE series.
Debbie, from Laois but based in Kildare, impressed the judges with her ‘bee happy’ wildlife garden, inspired by a honeybee colony that moved into her own garden last year.
This year's Super Garden competition brought five innovative designers to Baker Hall in Navan, in homes built by Glenveagh homes with the support of Meath County Council and the Land Development Agency through the Affordable Housing Scheme. Five households had their gardens transformed but only one garden made it to Bord Bia Bloom.
Meanwhile, eleven members of Meath Made, Co Meath's creative cluster are showcasing and selling their products at the five day festival of gardening, food and fun.
For the second year in a row, eight members from Meath Made have also come together to operate a collective shop at Bloom in the Grand Pavilion. They include Boann Irish Felt Designs, Rosin and Robin, Unique Gifts, Papertwigs Designs, the Patchwork Peacock, Púróga Pebble Art, Darych Designs, Frayne Woodcraft and Dawn McGrath Art.
Other participants from Meath Made include Anita Reynolds Art and Design, Bríd Fanning Art and Siobhan Daly Designs. All will be selling their productes from the Design Crafts Council of Ireland area within Bloom.