The Bellefield Social Initiative Mens Group mustered themselves once again and headed last Friday to Bloom - the annual June Bank Holiday Garden Festival at the Phoenix Park and might I be excused for saying had a blooming good time amid the food and the flora of this florid occasion.

This year the Garden Festival was bigger and better than ever, spread over 70 acres of the picturesque Phoenix Park incorporating 27 Show Gardens, 400 Exhibitors, 22 Cookery Demonstrations, 35 Garden Expert talks, 49 Artisan Food Traders, and 10 Micro Breweries. No excuse here for anyone to be bored, hungry, thirsty or indeed uninformed, if you were up for it, there was something for everyone.

We began our day with breakfast at the very stylish Avoca Handweavers, tasty if expensive, was the verdict from our experienced group – but sure go on treat yourself – cos as the add says - `You`re worth it`. And besides it was our day out.

We arrived at Bloom around 11.50 and had no need to queue as we had booked our tickets online at the very reasonable price of €5 per head thanks to a marvellous deal from An Post. And for the next 3 hours we were bathed in golden sunshine while our senses were assaulted by a rainbow of colour, a spectrum of form and design and a myriad of intoxicating scents and tantalizing aromas as we made our way around the cleverly creative Garden Designs, and the aromatic Bord Bia Food Village.

Ah the Food Village – a haven of delicious delectables for our men – who stoutly sampled and savoured all.

If you can manage to find a seat amid the huge crowds you can also available of excellent culinary expertise from some of the country`s most celebrated Chefs like Nevin Maguire, Catherine Fulvio, Dolan Skehan, Rozanne Stevens and Jenny Bristow or indeed gather some very special gardening tips from experts Gerry Daly or Dermot O`Neill or simply relax and enjoy some therapeutic flower arranging.

 

90,000 people visited the Event over the weekend and witnessed the initiative and the artistry of our garden designers, our food producers and our crafts people. This is a major annual occasion at a most reasonable cost and should be done at least once, if not annually.

It is all about what is good and wholesome and enterprising about the country and is truly a spectacular event, if a little arduous for men of a certain vintage, shall we say – but veni, vidi, vici ………………… we came, we saw and we conquered! And went away happy!

Afterwards we crossed the Park and enjoyed a more leisurely tour of Farmleigh House far from the madding crowd. Farmleigh – also situated in the Phoenix Park was purchased by the State from the Guinness family in 1999 for €29.2m and is now used to accommodate visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation – the most recent visitor of course being Elizabeth 11, Queen of England.

This stately home was built in the late 18th century and purchased by Edward Cecil Guinness the great grandson of the infamous Arthur! It has 14 bedrooms all with their own bathroom, a large dinning room used for State dinners, a beautiful ballroom and the most exquisite library and conservatory. We had a most interesting tour guide who really knew her stuff and delivered it with the same passion and enthusiasm as if it was her first time telling. There are also beautiful gardens and walks surrounding the house and a Gallery which houses different Art Collections at different times. All of this is free to the public – with tours every hour on the half hour unless of course there is a foreign dignitary in residence. And there is also a lovely little coffee shop on the grounds overlooking the lake where our group sat a while over tea and scones and lively conversation.

Farmleighs Summer Programme of Events is easily googled – totally free – and most definitely an enjoyable and informative experience.