{{Short description|Ireland's largest gardening event}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{For-multi|the celebration of James Joyce|Bloomsday|the road race in Spokane|Lilac Bloomsday Run}}
{{Infobox recurring event | name = Bord Bia Bloom | native_name = | logo = File:Bloom Festival.png | logo_caption = Bloom | image = | caption = | location = Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland | years_active = | founded = 2007 | dates = | genre = Gardening, horticulture, food<ref name="examiner2016">{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/bord-bia-has-spectacular-success-with-annual-bloom-festival-402214.html | publisher = Irish Examiner | website = irishexaminer.com | title = Bord Bia has spectacular success with annual Bloom Festival | date = 30 May 2016 | accessdate = 26 April 2020 }}</ref> | patron = President of Ireland<ref name="examiner2016"/> | attendance = 60,000–110,000 | budget = | website = https://www.bordbiabloom.com/ }}
'''Bloom Festival''', officially known as '''Bord Bia Bloom''', is Ireland's largest gardening show. It is a large five-day event, held each year in Phoenix Park, Dublin.<ref name="Bloom festival to host 60,000 gardening fans"/><ref name="Gardening fans flock to Bloom festival come rain, or shine">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gardening-fans-flock-to-bloom-festival-come-rain-or-shine-2211141.html|title=Gardening fans flock to Bloom festival come rain, or shine|date=8 June 2010|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|accessdate=8 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619163744/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gardening-fans-flock-to-bloom-festival-come-rain-or-shine-2211141.html|archive-date=19 June 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was first held in 2007 as '''Bloom in the Park''', and is organised by An Bord Bia (The Food Board).<ref name="examiner2016"/><ref name="Bloom festival to host 60,000 gardening fans"/>
The 2020 event was cancelled owing to the measures taken to address the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=24 March 2020 |title=Bord Bia Announces Cancellation Of Bloom 2020 |url=https://www.98fm.com/news/bord-bia-announces-cancellation-bloom-2020-988369 |accessdate=26 April 2020 |website=98fm.com |publisher=98FM}}</ref>
==History== The first Bloom garden festival was held in June 2007 and opened by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2016/0526/791139-first-bloom-festival/ |title=RTÉ Archives | Environment | First Bloom Festival |publisher=RTÉ | website = rte.ie |date=31 May 2007 |accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
The fourth (2010) festival was opened on 3 June 2010,<ref name="60,000 expected to visit Bloom Festival"/> with around 8,000 people visiting on the opening day.<ref>{{cite news|author=McGreevy, Ronan|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0603/breaking57.html|title=Weather brings crowds to Bloom|date=3 June 2010|work=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|accessdate=3 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="Morning business news - June 4">{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0604/mibusiness-business.html|title=Morning business news – June 4|date=4 June 2010|work=RTÉ News and Current Affairs|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|accessdate=4 June 2010}}</ref> Chinese ambassador Liu Biwei and the Earl of Rosse were among notable attendees.<ref name="Garden inspired by winter floods carries all before it">{{cite news|author=McGreevy, Ronan|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0604/1224271820450.html|title=Garden inspired by winter floods carries all before it|date=4 June 2010|work=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|accessdate=4 June 2010}}</ref> Former Chelsea Flower Show judge Andrew Wilson also judged at the event.<ref name="Where great ideas for gardens bloom and grow">{{cite news|author=Sheehan, Aideen|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/where-great-ideas-for-gardens-bloom-and-grow-2207326.html|title=Where great ideas for gardens bloom and grow|date=4 June 2010|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|accessdate=4 June 2010}}</ref> The 2010 event featured 24 gardens spread across {{convert|10|acre}} of Phoenix Park.<ref name="60,000 expected to visit Bloom Festival"/><ref name="Bloom festival grows its own success"/> The winner of ''Super Garden'', an RTÉ competition, was among them.<ref name="Bloom festival grows its own success">{{cite news|author=Mangan, Stephen|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0605/1224271905408.html|title=Bloom festival grows its own success|date=5 June 2010|work=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|accessdate=5 June 2010}}</ref>
Past events have featured professional gardeners, an artisan food market and culinary displays from several celebrity chefs. Since the event was launched, the show has had an increasing focus on food, with garden designers finding it hard to get sponsorship.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
The event has attracted large numbers of visitors, increasing from 60,000 people in 2010,<ref name="60,000 expected to visit Bloom Festival">{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0604/bloom.html|title=60,000 expected to visit Bloom Festival|date=4 June 2010|work=RTÉ News and Current Affairs|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|accessdate=4 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="Crowds are in Bloom as green fingers hit the park"> * {{cite news|author=McBride, Caitlin|url=http://www.herald.ie/lifestyle/home-garden/crowds-are-in-bloom-as-green-fingers-hit-the-park-2207833.html|title=Crowds are in Bloom as green fingers hit the park|date=4 June 2010|work=Evening Herald|publisher=Independent News & Media| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100608023105/https://www.herald.ie/lifestyle/home-garden/crowds-are-in-bloom-as-green-fingers-hit-the-park-2207833.html | archivedate = 8 June 2010 }} * {{cite news|author=McHale, Michael|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/flower-power-festival-fever-grips-the-nation-2210430.html|title=Flower power Festival fever grips the nation|date=7 June 2010|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|accessdate=7 June 2010}}</ref> to nearly 120,000 people in 2019.<ref> * {{cite web|author=More by Juliette Gash Multi-Media Journalist |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2019/0530/1052514-bloom-festival/ |title=President Michael D Higgins opens 13th Bloom festival |publisher=RTÉ News | website = rte.ie |date=30 May 2019 |accessdate=26 April 2020 }} * {{cite web|url = https://www.checkout.ie/a-brands/bloom-festival-brings-e10m-june-bank-holiday-weekend-75919 | website = checkout.ie | title = Bloom Festival Brings In €10M Over June Bank Holiday Weekend | date = 5 June 2019 | accessdate = 26 April 2020 | quote = Over 115,000 people visited the festival [in 2019] }}</ref> The volume of visitors has led to long queues,<ref name="Garden inspired by winter floods carries all before it"/> and increased levels of traffic in the area.<ref name="Bloom festival to host 60,000 gardening fans">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bloom-festival-to-host-60000-gardening-fans-2209000.html|title=Bloom festival to host 60,000 gardening fans|date=5 June 2010|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|accessdate=5 June 2010}}</ref> The event organisers have sought to encourage attendees to make use of public transport.<ref name="Bloom festival to host 60,000 gardening fans"/>
== Gallery == <gallery> File:Bloom in the Park 2017 1.jpg|RTÉ logo at Bloom 2017 File:Bloom in the Park 2017 33.jpg|Show garden, 2017 File:Bloom in the Park 2017 9.jpg|Plant exhibit, 2017 File:Bloom in the Park 2019 03.jpg|Floral exhibit, 2019 File:Bord Bia Bloom 2026 44.jpg|Show garden, 2026 File:Bord Bia Bloom 2026 32.jpg|Postcard garden, 2026 </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.bordbiabloom.com/ Bord Bia Bloom official site]
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Category:Gardening in the Republic of Ireland Category:Horticultural exhibitions Category:Flora of Ireland Category:Festivals established in 2007 Category:Tourist attractions in Dublin (city) Category:Annual events in the Republic of Ireland Category:Summer in the Republic of Ireland