An upside down garden, the challenges of urban living, skin cancer awareness, gender inequality, sustainable fishing and biodiversity are among the issues which will be brought to life in some of the stunning show gardens at Bord Bia's Bloom which returns to the Phoenix Park Dublin from 31st May to 4th June 2018. The five day event which showcases the best of Ireland's horticulture and food industry will feature 20 spectacular show gardens and endless garden and floral features. Bloom offers a great out for all the family featuring arts, crafts, music, food and drink as well as talks, debates, workshops and live cookery demonstrations with some of Ireland's best loved chefs. Pictured at the Botanic Gardens Glasnevin, for the launch of Bord Bia's Bloom were: Gary Graham, Bord Bia's Bloom Show Manager, Tara McCarthy, CEO Bord Bia and children Skye Toal aged 5 from Finglas with Mateus Carvalho aged 6 from Athlone. Picture Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography 2018
An upside down garden, the challenges of urban living, skin cancer awareness, gender inequality, sustainable fishing and biodiversity are among the issues which will be brought to life in some of the stunning show gardens at Bord Bia's Bloom which returns to the Phoenix Park Dublin from 31st May to 4th June 2018. The five day event which showcases the best of Ireland's horticulture and food industry will feature 20 spectacular show gardens and endless garden and floral features. Bloom offers a great out for all the family featuring arts, crafts, music, food and drink as well as talks, debates, workshops and live cookery demonstrations with some of Ireland's best loved chefs. Pictured at the Botanic Gardens Glasnevin, for the launch of Bord Bia's Bloom were: Gary Graham, Bord Bia's Bloom Show Manager, Tara McCarthy, CEO Bord Bia and children Skye Toal aged 5 from Finglas with Mateus Carvalho aged 6 from Athlone. Picture Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography 2018

Bloom will be officially opened by President Michael D. Higgins with his wife Sabina today at 11am. Visitors will also have the chance to see top chefs at the Bord Bia Quality Kitchen Stage in The Food Village including Rory O’Connell, Neven Maguire, Shane Smith and Paul Flynn.

Opening day sessions on the Garden Expert & Fashion Stage will include talks with gardening guru Gerry Daly, fashion shows by Debenhams and a Summer Beauty Masterclass. The GIY Food Matters Stage begins a series of discussions and debates from 12 noon including topics such as School Lunches and Hospital Food and Bord Bia’s Get Your 7 a Day Under the Rainbow at Bloom polytunnel will host talks by children’s food experts and nutritionists from 11am on the benefits of fruit and vegetables.

RTÉ has a stellar opening day line-up including two special live programmes presented by Áine Lawlor and Marty Morrissey at 5.10pm and 8.30pm and the live finale of Super Garden at 7pm. Marty in the Morning will also be coming live from Bloom on Lyric FM and RTÉ Weather will be delivering its main bulletins from the RTÉ set this evening.

The Bord Bia Food Village will also open its doors today with more than 70 producers in the Food Market which showcases smaller scale Irish producers of farmhouse cheeses, preserves, baked goods, confectionary, juices and much more; the Love Irish Food pavilion featuring up to 15 stalls belonging to members of this campaign organisation; the Fresh Food Market, dedicated to Bord Bia Quality Assured meat, poultry and fish as well as fruit and vegetables, will be tended by nearly 20 producers selling and providing information to the public; The Bloom Inn will feature 24 craft drink producers and will also showcase a range of Irish farmhouse cheeses hosted by CÁIS (the Association of Irish Farmhouse Cheese Makers.

Bloom Show Gardens 2018

Selection of the Show Gardens at this year's Bloom Festival by Bord Bia – Irish Food Board, we are excited to see who will win medals tomorrow morning. What garden is your favourite? #Bloom2018 Join us to see the real thing! www.bloominthepark

Posted by Bloom on Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Tickets
Tickets are on sale now on Ticketmaster and can also be purchased on the gate. Onsite tickets with concessions for during the week start from €21. Returning sponsors for this year’s event include FBD Insurance, Irish Independent and the Office of Public Works.

For more information visit www.bloominthepark.com or follow Bloom on Facebook and Twitter @bloominthepark.

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