Athlone to become first GAA club with a garden at prestigious Bloom festival
Athlone GAA Club has announced that it's been selected to participate in the prestigious Bloom Festival 2025, Ireland's premier gardening, food, and horticulture event.
The club's entry marks the first time a GAA club has had a garden at the event, which is taking place in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, over the June bank holiday weekend (May 29 to June 2).
This festival will once again be graced by a visit from President Michael D Higgins, who will tour and visit the featured gardens.
Athlone GAA's involvement in Bloom coincides with its being one of 200 clubs throughout the country participating in Phase 3 of the GAA Green Club Programme—a national initiative supporting Gaelic Games clubs in adopting sustainable practices across five key areas: Water, Biodiversity, Waste, Energy, and Travel & Transport.
The Athlone GAA garden for Bloom will be a community-based postcard garden, measuring approximately 2.5m by 3m.
Blaithin Fleming, Athlone GAA’s Green Officer, expressed the club's excitement about being selected:
"We are delighted to be part of the GAA Green Club Programme. Athlone GAA is on a journey towards sustainability, and this initiative gives us the perfect opportunity to build on the work already being done in our community.
"It is the first time a GAA Club has entered a garden into Bloom so it's really something to look forward to," she added.
Athlone GAA said its garden at Bloom 2025 will seek to "creatively and thoughtfully embody the core values of the nationwide GAA Green Club Programme."
With over 2,000 GAA clubs across Ireland, Athlone GAA's entry aims to honour the collective sustainability efforts being made nationwide. It will serve as a tribute to the positive environmental impact that GAA communities can make when working together toward a greener future.
Sheila Plunkett, who has worked extensively with Athlone GAA Adventure Camps, helping young players engage with both sport and nature, shared her enthusiasm:
"I've loved doing the planting work around the club, and it's great to see the kids take such interest and enthusiasm in these projects. The support from the younger members of Athlone GAA has been fantastic – and now I'll certainly need more help with the garden for Bloom."
The club's Green Committee and Bloom entry form part of a broader vision for investment and development at Pairc Chiarain, Athlone GAA's home grounds.
Fiachra McLoughlin, the club's chairman, outlined its strategic goals: "Our ground at Pairc Chairain spans 18.5 acres and includes three floodlit pitches.
"Now, we want to invest in the spaces around our pitches, and the facilities and amenities for members and visitors.
"Our aim is to develop these areas in a green, sustainable manner and bring more nature into our grounds. We have a lot of work to do – this is a long-term project and we are only really getting started."
New volunteers interested in supporting Athlone GAA Club's Green Club activities are encouraged to get in touch by email at: greenofficer@athlonegaa.ie
In addition to Athlone GAA Club, Westmeath will also be represented at Bloom by Kilbeggan Organic Foods, which is set to be featured in the Food Village and Bloom Inn at the event.