Two Westmeath exhibitors at Bord Bia Bloom
Two exhibitors from Westmeath are to join the line-up at this year’s Bord Bia Bloom (May 29 to June 2).
Visitors to Bloom can meet 100-plus of Ireland’s top food and craft drink producers at the Food Village and Bloom Inn, including Kilbeggan Organic Foods, established and run by the Lalor family, specialising in growing organic oats of the highest quality.
The other Westmeath exhibitor will be Athlone GAA with its Athlone GAA Green Clubs Garden, which celebrates the GAA’s Green Clubs Programme.
It is part of the Postcard Gardens supported by Tirlán CountryLife. The postcard gardens are petite size green canvases designed by community groups around Ireland.
The GAA Green Clubs initiative supports local clubs to take sustainability action in their grounds and activities. The garden will represent the programme’s themes of water, biodiversity, waste, energy, travel and transport.
The festival expects to welcome 100,000 visitors to its 70-acre site, and the 21 new show gardens at the centre of the experience. As well as the return of popular features, the organisers have new demonstrations, panel discussions, talks and performances.
Those include the Plant Emporium, live demonstrations and interactive workshops including floral crown making in the new Botanical Hub, and exhibitions of Botanical and Floral Art and AOIFA’s (Association of Irish Floral Artists) Floral Art Competition.
There is also the Food Village and Bloom Inn where visitors can meet top food and craft drink producers, including Kilbeggan Organic Foods.
Attendees can also enjoy food from plenty of food trucks, the BBQ Bliss area or the four on-site restaurants: The Garden View Restaurant, Bistro Bloom, Country Crest Restaurant and The Seafood Terrace.
New for this year is ‘A Taste of Bloom, curated by Neven’ a three-course dining experience celebrating quality Irish produce designed exclusively by chef Neven Maguire for Bloom.
For younger visitors, there is plenty to enjoy too, from the returning planting experiences to a range of fun, educational and interactive workshops at the Budding Bloomers Children’s Area.
Tickets are on sale via the BordBiaBloom.com website. Two children (aged 16 and under) go free with each adult ticket purchased.