Kildare exhibitors earn top awards at Bloom 2026
From Newbridge, Joe Eustace was awarded Gold for The ‘Future In Mind’ Garden sponsored by the Mental Health Commission
KILDARE designers, growers and floral artists were among the big winners as Bord Bia Bloom opened its 20th annual festival in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, securing a string of top awards across show gardens, plant nurseries and floral art categories.
The festival was officially opened by the President of Ireland and Bloom Patron, Catherine Connolly, and attendees were treated to a range of live performances, talks and demonstrations throughout the day.
Kildare received 22 medals this year and leading the county’s success was Newbridge-based designer Joe Eustace, whose ‘Future In Mind Garden’, sponsored by the Mental Health Commission, claimed Gold, Best in Category in the Medium Garden section and Best Planting. The garden was among the standout exhibits at this year’s Bloom, which has placed a strong focus on sustainability, wellbeing and innovative urban living.
Kildare also enjoyed success in the Concept Garden category, where Paul Dunne from Kilmeage, alongside Padraic Woods, received a Silver-Gilt medal for ‘Met Éireann’s 90th Anniversary: Past, Present and Future’, sponsored by Met Éireann. Meanwhile, Debbie Brophy from Newbridge earned Silver in the Balcony Garden category for ‘The Master Gardener’s Balcony’, sponsored by Cairn.
The county’s horticultural excellence was further recognised in the Nursery Village, where Therese Duffey’s Nightpark Nursery in Colbinstown was awarded Gold and Best in Show. Gold medals were also presented to Mary Doran’s Irish Plants in Naas and Patrick Doran’s The Bee’s Knees in Donadea, while Heather Curran’s Woodview Plants in Naas secured Silver-Gilt.
Kildare artists also made a major impression in the Floral and Botanical Art competition. Athy artist Nicola Lynch Morrin won Gold and Best in Category for her watercolour piece ‘She Rests Between Worlds 2026’. Straffan-based artist Kathrine Geoghegan received Silver-Gilt for ‘Summer Solstice’ and Bronze for ‘Dormant Fen’, both acrylic works with oil glazes on aluminium.
There was further success for Kildare exhibitors in the A.O.I.F.A. floral art competitions. Maynooth’s Maureen Fagan won Gold in the Fantasia category representing the Maynooth Flower & Garden Club, while Rani Doris, also from Maynooth, secured Gold in the Bewitch category and Silver-Gilt in Rugged Beauty for the South Dublin Flower Club. Geraldine Bowdren from Naas received Silver-Gilt in Fantasia, while Athy’s Avril Maher took Silver in Elevated View for the Naas Flower & Garden Club.
Chief Judge Andrew Wilson praised the evolving standard of design at Bloom and highlighted the importance of resilient planting and sustainable ideas in response to climate pressures.
Bord Bia Bloom continues across the June bank holiday weekend in the Phoenix Park, featuring show gardens, food and drink experiences, live entertainment, demonstrations and talks from leading gardening, food and wellness experts.
