Ireland's Top Floral, Food & Family Festival to Bloom this June Bank Holiday
Cois na Tra Plants to represent Mayo as Bord Bia launches Bloom 2013

Garden Designers Fiann O Nuallain and Leonie Cornelius launch Bloom 2013 with the help of Millie Kelly aged 4. Bloom 2013 takes places in the Phoenix Park from Thursday May 30th to Monday June 3rd. The gardening, food and family festival attracted 80,000 visitors last year. Photo: Gary O' Neill

May 10th 2013: Bord Bia has announced the return of Bloom, its hugely successful gardening, food and family festival, which will take place within a 70 acre site in the Phoenix Park, Dublin this June bank holiday weekend. Now in its seventh year, the event attracted over 80,000 visitors last year.

Bloom 2013 will be officially opened by The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, on Thursday May 30th and will run until Monday June 3rd. Visitors will have the opportunity to view 28 spectacular show gardens, sample a wide range of artisan food as well as craft beers and spirits from over 100 Irish food and drink producers, and attend more than 25 cookery demonstrations by some of Ireland's best loved chefs (detailed below). The popular Floral Marquee will also return featuring 50 nurseries along with almost 200 retailers including Cois na Tra Plants.

Gary Graham, Bloom Show Manager, Bord Bia said "Our show-garden designers are working hard to ensure visitors to Bloom 2013 will be both entertained and inspired. We have a great show lined up with gardens that focus on sustainability, times gone by and fashion. We also have some wonderful show-gardens from charities such as Aspire, The Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, the Jack & Jill Foundation and Our Lady's Hospice, Dublin which we're hoping will raise awareness of these great causes."

This year, Bloom is also inviting 1,000 people to the Gathering of Gardeners - offering people who are passionate about gardening a chance to bring together their friends and family to share in the wonderful experience that is Bloom in the Park.


Attractions in 2013
Horticultural Happenings
· New features this year include an expanded ‘concept garden space' allowing garden designers to explore creative ideas, ‘postcard garden exhibitions' created by community garden groups from all around Ireland and a Botanical Art Exhibition.

· The winner of RTE's Super Garden show will also be revealed at Bloom! (See www.bloominthepark.com for the full list of this year's designers)

· In-keeping with tradition, the Bloom show-gardens will be complemented by a spectacular Floral Marquee, featuring displays of the best of Irish flowers and plants while leading experts in the horticulture, gardening and floristry industries will appear on the Garden Expert Stage.

· The tree-climbing competition is back. It will see tree climbers from all over Ireland and further afield test their balance, agility and speed against the clock! Visitors to the show of all ages will also have an opportunity to join the fun.

A Feast-ival of Food
· The hugely popular Bord Bia Food Village will once again offer visitors the opportunity to sample some of the finest artisan foods produced around the country.

· At the Bord Bia Quality Kitchen stage, some of Ireland's best loved chefs with live cooking demonstrations including Neven Maguire, Catherine Fulvio, Martin Shanahan and Donal Skehan, among others. The events will be hosted by TV presenter and well known foodie, Ella McSweeney who will also interview food producers throughout the weekend.

· Fans of craft beer and whiskey will enjoy a visit to the ‘Bloom Inn' while Bloom will also host the Irish Cheese Awards for the first time this year.

· Ireland's food and drink industry is on a sustainability journey through the Origin Green development programme that aims to demonstrate the commitment of the sector. This journey will be explained in Bord Bia's Food Village using interactive features allowing visitors to discover what it means for them.

Family Entertainment
· As Bloom is a family event, kids go free and there will be a variety of entertainment options for all the family to enjoy including music, Budding Bloomers, a dedicated children's play zone, with games and activities, craft workshops and a picnic area.

· A new feature from Active Retirement Ireland will include fitness and exercise displays, an outdoor bowls green, bird box making and flower arranging.

· The picnic area surrounding the Main Stage promises to be a perfect spot for relaxation and enjoyment with various musical artists entertaining visitors from mid-morning to late afternoon, for the duration of Bloom.

New and returning sponsors for this year's event include Failte Ireland, Love Irish Food, OPW, Woodies, Bord na Móna, Dublin City Council, Calor Gas, Keelings and the Irish Independent.

Tickets are on sale now and visitors are encouraged to book early for discounted rates by visiting www.bloominthepark.com. Follow Bloom 2013 on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bloominthepark or join the conversation on Twitter, www.twitter.com/bloominthepark or #Bloom.