Welcome
The Association of Irish Floral Artists (AOIFA), which was founded in 1973, is the official organisation of affiliated Floral Art Groups and Flower and Garden Clubs in Ireland.
NAFAS National Show 2023
Come along with AOIFA on their visit to the NAFAS National Show across the water. Positioned in the spotless Gloucester Cathedral in South West England. You will get the opportunity to take in inspiring floral arrangements at the National Show, which also has a robust schedule of seminars, demonstrations, and contests. This jam-packed tour’s price also includes the return ferry leaving from Rosslare, magical visits to historical gardens, a Roman villa and a show at the Everyman Theatre Cheltenham. More details can be found here
Happy New Year
Wishing all our members the very best for 2023
Christine and the AOIFA Executive
AOIFA Council Meeting 2022
Eleven new AOIFA Judges were presented with their Certificates and Badges at the Council Meeting on Thursday 3 November 2022. Pictured are the new Judges with the Judges Committee and Course Advisors.
New Vice-Chair Announced
Siobhan McInerney of Charleville Flower and Garden Club was introduced as the incoming Vice Chairperson. Siobhan will join the incoming AOIFA Executive in March 2023
Pictured left to right: Ann Clifford, Current AOIFA Vice-Chairperson, Siobhan McInerney, Incoming Vice-Chairperson, Christine Hughes, Current AOIFA Chairperson
Gold Award for AOIFA at Bloom 2022
Sutton Floral Art Group created the superb AOIFA exhibit for Bloom 2022 which was awarded a Gold Medal.
Pictured Left to Right: Karen O'Farrell, Sutton Floral Art Group, Diane Gallagher AOIFA @Bloom Coordinator, Sharon O'Sullivan, Sutton Floral Art Group
Ali Dietrich wowed the audience with her delightful demonstration "The Nutcracker". Click for photos.
AOIFA National Competitions 2022
was held at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photos of the creative work of our competitors including the Floral Artist of the Year and the Inter-club competitions can be viewed here
WAFA News
VIRTUAL WORLD FLOWER SHOW
AOIFA
presents
"Elements of Nature"
All classes are full and no further entries are being accepted
The Australian Floral Art Association will host WAFA from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2027.
The WAFA seminar will be held in 2025 and the WAFA world Show in 2027.
Official site for information: www.wafa-australia.org
Oman will host a WAFA Floral Event in 2024.
Kilkenny Flower Club
Autumn 2022
As our season begins to change, the glorious colours of autumn are with us.
We reflect on what a lovely summer we have had. The highlight for me was the AOIFA Flower Festival in Naas.
The whole weekend was terrific, the excitement on Thursday and Friday for the set up, arm-loads of plants and flowers being brought into all three Churches. You did yourselves proud!
The exhibits were just beautiful - all around there was creativity in abundance. Thank you to everyone who took part, you made the weekend special.
Now our thoughts turn to the National Competitions and Social Weekend in Galway. While the hotel is fully booked there is accommodation available near the hotel.
Competition classes are still open for entry, we have extended the closing date until Monday the 19th September, why not have a go? Our competitions secretary Paula Dowling would love to hear from you. The competition schedule may be downloaded from the AOIFA website.
Hot on the heels of the social weekend there is the council meeting on Thursday 3rd of November, where we will launch the Christmas season with what promises to be a wonderful demonstration, watch this space - no clues yet!
It is great to hear about all the clubs opening up and having all the various activities we do, it’s just good to meet up again.
Christine
2021 Virtual Poetry Competition
The results of the 2021 Virtual Poetry competition hosted by Bridget Morley are as follows:
1st Place: Emma Champ, Naas Flower & Garden Club
2nd Place: Nicola Desmond, Kinsale Garden & Flower Club
3rd Place: Mary Cowhig, Owenabue Flower and Garden Club
“Wait till I tell you what’s been going on,”
he slumps in his nest of a chair,
clutches the cigarette, places the lighter in his lips.
The goings-on are from forty years prior,
but I still want to hear them.
Time shared multiplies, and I’ll take all I can get.
Shades of him pepper my habits now -
cold coffee forgotten on the mantlepiece,
appreciation for a good woollen jumper.
Waning comprehension of the world beyond,
but still understanding me better than anyone.
My name is lost to time, my heart is not.
- Emma Champ, Naas Flower & Garden Club
Wait till I tell you what's been going on,
In the last 18 months all normality's gone.
Instead, our lives have become very strange,
The Covid pandemic has caused such a change
When the virus arrived, in a rather odd caper
Some people began bulk-buying loo paper.
Though grocery shopping was once a chore,
It's more entertaining than before,
For since Covid-19 came
It's turned into a guessing game.
Since most people wear a mask,
What was once a mundane task
Has become weekly puzzle,
"Name the face behind the muzzle!"
In a life without Covid, 'would be my first task
To go out and burn this thrice-cursed mask.
I'd place it on top of a funeral pyre,
Then gleefully watch the flames leaping higher,
In the last 18 months, I've become it's despiser,
How I long for a time without this damned visor!
Mary Cowhig - Owenabue Flower and Garden Club
Wait till I tell you what’s been going on….
So, let’s go back it won’t take long, a little adventure we did take and off to India we did make
On return oh what a surprise to be greeted by hand sanitiser and masks alike
Confined to our homes, no clubs could meet, Eileen O’Brien online sure no one could beat,
Then the call came no show, in the field we can’t go, get the classes together and online we will go
We’ve zoomed in and out, gone live and recorded, but without doubt our friendships survived it.
So, the vaccines delivered the doors are reopened, were back to the meetings the dems and the teachings
So, lets rally the troops from Malin to the Old Head and descend on the west and do what we do best.
- By Nicola Desmond, Kinsale Garden & Flower Club