Festival of Flowers
Friday 30th August 2024 to Sunday 1st September 2024 Time: 2p.m. to 6 p.m. Parish of Haggardstown and Blackrock
We extend a warm welcome to all who join us in celebrating the centenary of Saint Oliver Plunkett, Blackrock. We hope you enjoy the Festival of Flowers.
Flower festivals have a special place in Irish culture and history. They are a celebration of nature and the changing seasons, as well as a tribute to the hard work of farmers and gardeners who cultivate the land. This flower festival is developed around twelve diverse themes and it also draws on the rich symbolism of plants, flowers and fruits that are depicted on the stained-glass windows in the church dedicated to St. Oliver Plunkett.
The themed floral displays on display during the festival of flowers are the creations of award winning Dundalk native Paul Martin and his team. We are delighted to have Paul and his team working with us to make this an exceptional occasion.
Paul Martin
Paul graduated from the College of Amenity Horticulture Dublin, in 1986. Having spent the majority of the course training alongside skilled horticulturalists specialised in plant physiology, Paul established himself as an innovator in landscaping. With nine Gold medals for show gardens to date, Paul Martin is regarded as one of Ireland’s leading garden designers.
Over the past two decades, Paul Martin Landscape and Garden Design has received nine Gold & three Best in Show awards for show gardens including Bloom in the Park (Gold & Best in Show 2007 / 2013, Gold 2012 / 2008), Royal Dublin Society (Gold & Best in Show 2005, Gold 2004), RHS Hampton Court Flower Show (Gold 2014 / 2011) and Singapore Garden Festival (Gold 2012). Our studio has also been awarded a number of other prestigious awards including a Silver medals at RHS Chelsea Flower Show (2003), Bronze at Flower Show Tatton Park (2002) and Silver Gilt awards in RHS Hampton Court Flower Show (2013 / 2006). In 2003, Paul Martin Landscape and Garden Design was the first ever recipient of the BBC’s People’s Choice Award at Chelsea
The Twelve Themes
The Festival of Flowers includes twelve themes that can be visited inside the church. They reflect various aspects of the mission statement of the Parish Pastoral Council of Haggardstown and Blackrock that recognises the diversity of our parish community by reaching out in an open and compassionate way.
1. Welcoming
The Church of St. Oliver Plunkett in Blackrock has always been a place of welcome over the past one hundred years. We as a parish wish to welcome all who have joined our parish and we embrace the next chapter of our church.
2. Faith
3. Future
4 .Charity
These can be symbolised by Wheat (for the bread of life), the Iris (for hope in the future) and the White Lily (for charity)
These are depicted on some of the stained-glass windows in the church that were erected by James Watson and Co. of Youghal, Co. Cork.
5 .Youth
The youth are always been an important part of our parish in the past and we strive as a community to encourage our youth to play an active role in the future of our parish.
6. Creation
7. Healing
8. Peace
Creation can be symbolised by the fruit of the Passion Flower, that represents the world saved by Christ. The pomegranate is associated with healing and the white rose symbolises peace.
9. Education
Education plays a pivotal role in our parish, the three primary schools in our parish are St. Oliver Plunkett NS that celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, St. Fursey’s NS and St. Francis NS. Our schools come together to celebrate the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation in both St. Oliver Plunkett Church and St. Fursey’s Church.
10. Maritime
St. Oliver Plunkett Church overlooks the Irish Sea and has been a very important place of worship for those who fished or worked at sea in the past. Blackrock was a favourite holiday tourist destination for those who lived inland and is still visited especially on August 15th each year.
11. Ecumenism
12. St. Oliver Plunkett