Voice of a community

The lovely people over in the Community Voice were kind enough to write a follow up after their original article about Bloom. Click here to read the follow up.
Click here to read the original.

Get what you want out of life

This isn't particularly related to anything on this blog other than doing "your thing" (yes I'm quoting a diet coke ad) of which I'm a big believer of.

A friend of mine told me about the site 43things.com so I checked it out took a quiz and it turns out that I'm a Self-knowing healthy builder whatever that means. So if like me you're hurtling towards 30 ( 1 year, 7 months, and 23 days to be precise) why not log on to 43things.com and write yourself a list of goals that you hope to acheive before the big birthday bash!

I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I'm a

Self-Knowing Healthy Builder

News from Architecturenow.ie

First carbon neutral international convention centre

The convention centre Dublin has announced that it is the first carbon neutral international convention centre as the net impact of its construction on the environment is zero. This is the result of low carbon cement and by offsetting unavoidable carbon emissions by investing in carbon credits.

The building was designed by Pritzker award winning Irish Architect Kevin Roche and is situated at Spencer dock and cost €380 million. The purpose built national conference centre can accommodate conference of up to 8,000 people in 222 rooms and includes a 2,000-seater auditorium, 4,500 metres of exhibition space and banqueting facilities for up to 3,000 guests.
Posted: 08/06/2009 10:53:27

News from Architecturenow.ie

Public Park will generate own electricity

A new public park which generates its own electricity from wind turbines has been opened in North Dublin. The 52 acre Fr Collins Park in Donaghmede has been described as Ireland’s first sustainable park. It will source all its power from five wind turbines worth €1.2 million.
The turbines will generate about 250kW/hr of electricity a year and it is hoped the turbines will pay for themselves by providing floodlights for the park, powering five dressing rooms, maintenance buildings and water features. The park is named after Fr Joe Collins who died 30 years ago.
Posted: 08/06/2009 10:32:56

RTE Nationwide June 3rd 2009 - click link to watch interview

A few of the people who popped by for tea...

Mary and I get ready for Nationwide - Wednesday June 3rd 7pm RTE1

My Nana Jean found the garden incredibly relaxing!

Pat Fitzgerald took a break from the MyPlant exhibit in the main pavillion

I'd like to say Thank you (in no particular order) to...


Javier, Anna, Jeanne, Claude, Sharon, Chris, Helen, Andriy, Sinead, Dave, Debbie, Joe, Mags, Gerry and Ger, Karol and Monica.

Janet, Albert and Dominic - brilliant Bloom neighbours and you were so generous to help me clear up! Thank you

Jer Doran, Pat White and the team at White's Agri - you've been amazing suppliers and supporters - Thank you

Pat Fitzgerald from MyPlant - With no plants there would have been no garden...Thank you for coming to my rescue!

Chad Gilmer and VAZUMO.COM - with no digger we would still be digging - Thank you

Peter Donegan - you advice and support has been invaluable - Thank you!

Paula Banks and Michelle O'Kane for your amazing photographs

Eugene Higgins for covering the story in the Irish Mail on Sunday

Fergus and Mary for the write up in the Community Voice

Everyone who popped by to say hi at the show!

Mum, Nan, Barry for letting me nick your tools and for your continued support.

A heart felt Thank you to each and everyone of you!

(If you think I might have missed someone off this list, infact if it's you I've missed - just let me know as it's not intentional)

The Big Bloom Blog


(I wrote this at 6pm Thursday May 28th 2009 - just adding to the blog today)

It's wind down time on site at Bloom 2009 as today was the opening day and it has been long, hot and emotional..and completely worth it!

I set out on my Bloom adventure to see what I could achieve, what my strengths and weaknesses are and I certainly did, I've learnt an awful lot in a very short space of time.

I'll bring you up to date with the last few days of the build:

The final build weekend went well; Pat from MyPlant dropped in the 3000 Carex buchani and with an army of, very lovely, volunteers, the plants were placed into position along with the Stipa. This weekend was also the weekend that I realised that the wooden seating area could be a problem. Monday flew by and despite the generous help of dome fabulous volunteers, who stayed way past bedtime to lend a hand, I knew that some aspects of the design would be unachievable in the time frame we had left. By Wednesday I was overwhelmed with crushing disappointment in myself; the seating area was a shambles and I was on site at 6am trying desperately to improve it...to no avail.

Granted a medal was never my goal but I had hoped that I could at the very least impress the judges. A predicted call to my mobile confirmed that the "judges were concerned with the safety" of the seating area and suggested that the woodwork be removed and the sunken area be lined with turf. Point taken - I did as they suggested.

Needless to say there was no medal awarded to 'In Amongst the Grasses' according to the rumour mill "the garden wasn't judged at all as it wasn't finished". Such encouraging rumours to add to the already sickening embarrassment that I have.

So I'm down (a bit) but I'm not out. I've achieved what I came to achieve. The judges also told me that I "shouldn't feel discouraged" and I'm not. In fact I already know what I'm doing next year.

Link to photographs of 'In Amonst the Grasses' by Paula Banks and Michelle O'Kane