Leading Mayo florist plays role in success of Bloom 2026

Judi Roche, owner of Balla Florists and a board member of the Institute of Flowers, is proud to have been part of the team that helped deliver one of the largest floral showcases ever seen at Bloom 2026.

Over five days, 76 florists from across Ireland collaborated on award-winning floral installations, demonstrations, competitions and educational displays, helping to showcase the talent and professionalism of Irish floristry to thousands of visitors.

Said Judi: "I also had the opportunity to demonstrate floristry techniques during the festival, meet visitors from across Ireland, and help promote floristry as a creative and rewarding career.

"One of the highlights was seeing the Institute of Flowers awarded a Gold Medal for Floristry and witnessing the incredible teamwork that brought the entire project to life."

The weekend proved a major success for Irish floristry, with the Institute of Flowers being awarded a Gold Medal for Floristry for its feature competition installation, From Seed to Full Bloom: The Future of Floristry in Ireland, while also celebrating a Bronze Medal alongside floral designer Benny Agius for the highly acclaimed Universal Studios Minions Garden.

Throughout the festival, floristry was firmly placed in the spotlight.

Floral headpieces created by Irish florists were worn by celebrities, radio presenters and influencers attending the event, while Institute members participated in radio interviews and media engagements that highlighted the skill, artistry and career opportunities available within the profession.

The work of the Institute and its members also featured as part of Bloom coverage on RTÉ, bringing Irish floristry to a national audience and helping to raise awareness of the industry among thousands of visitors both on-site and at home.

From large-scale floral installations and immersive displays to intricate wearable floristry pieces, visitors experienced the incredible diversity of modern floristry.

Live demonstrations, workshops and hands-on experiences throughout the Bloom weekend allowed the public to engage directly with professional florists and gain a deeper understanding of the craft.

A major highlight of Bloom 2026 was the Institute of Flowers’ own professional floristry competition, Floral Fashion, which returned for its second year and attracted an exceptional standard of entries from florists across Ireland.

The competition challenged participants to create wearable floral art, pushing the boundaries of creativity, craftsmanship and technical skill.

Visitors were treated to an extraordinary display of floral fashion, with competitors producing breathtaking headpieces, body adornments and botanical couture designs that demonstrated the talent and innovation thriving within Irish floristry today.

The competition pieces became one of the most talked-about features of the weekend, inspiring visitors and showcasing the incredible diversity of skills that exist within the profession.

From elegant botanical accessories to bold statement pieces, the standard of work on display reinforced the message that Irish floristry is among the very best in Europe.

The Institute of Flowers also used Bloom as a live learning environment, providing opportunities for florists to work alongside internationally recognised designers, develop new skills and collaborate on large-scale public projects.

Throughout the event, experienced professionals and emerging florists worked side-by-side, sharing knowledge and strengthening the sense of community that continues to drive the organisation forward.

The Institute of Flowers wishes to recognise the outstanding support received from its industry partners and sponsors.

Their generosity, commitment and belief in the future of Irish floristry made many of the weekend’s achievements possible.

From the supply of flowers, foliage and plants to logistical support, expertise and encouragement, partners including Van der Plas, Porta Nova Roses, Miss Alstromeria, Marginpar, Decorum, Tanner’s Foliage, Rathmines Glass and Positive2Work Skillnet played a vital role in bringing the vision to life.

Together, these partners helped provide the resources that enabled Irish florists to create award-winning installations, wearable floral art, educational demonstrations and interactive experiences for the thousands of visitors who attended Bloom 2026.

Fionnuala McAuley, founder of the Institute of Flowers, said: “Bloom 2026 has been a defining moment for Irish floristry.

"To see 76 florists working together as one community, sharing knowledge, supporting each other and creating work of this standard has been incredibly special.

"Winning Gold for floristry is a wonderful achievement, but what makes me most proud is the visibility our industry has received. From national media coverage and RTÉ features to seeing floral designs worn by public figures, we have shown the public that floristry is a highly skilled profession, a creative career and a vibrant industry with a bright future.

"The support we received from our sponsors was simply phenomenal. Their commitment to our industry allowed us to dream bigger, create on a larger scale and provide opportunities that many florists would never otherwise experience. Bloom 2026 was a true example of what can happen when an industry comes together with a shared vision.”

"The Institute of Flowers also acknowledges the continued support of Positive2Work Skillnet, whose investment in professional development and industry training has helped create meaningful opportunities for florists across Ireland.

"Bloom provided a platform not only to showcase talent but also to demonstrate the impact that education, mentorship and collaboration can have on the future of the profession.

"The Institute extends a special thank you to Van der Plas, Porta Nova Roses, Miss Alstro Maria, Marginpar, Decorum, Tanner’s Foliage, Rathmines Glass and Positive2Work Skillnet, whose support, generosity and belief in the Irish floristry community helped transform ambitious ideas into award-winning reality.

"As Bloom 2026 comes to a close, the Institute of Flowers extends its sincere thanks to every florist, volunteer, sponsor, partner and supporter who contributed to making the event such a remarkable celebration of Irish floristry.

"With award-winning designs, national media coverage, celebrity collaborations, industry-leading education and a community united in purpose, Bloom 2026 will be remembered as a defining moment for floristry in Ireland."