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Kaleidoscope 2021 - The Garden Club of Toronto

Well done to AOIFA members who participated in the Garden Club of Toronto's Kaleidoscope 2021 Flower Show. After the huge success of the Re-Connections show in February, we were very excited to see the fresh, inspiring work that this show would produce. We weren't disappointed. The official show page can be found here.

Maureen Fagan - Class 11 "A Gentle Palette" - Honourable Mention

Ann Clifford - Class 11 "A Gentle Palette"

Sharon O’Sullivan - Class 10 "Psychedelic" - Second Place

Beverley Buttimer - Class 7 "Close Encounters of the Colourful Kind" - Third Place

Cork Summer Show 2021

Winning exhibits and choice entries from the Summer Floral Art and Horticulture sections of the Cork Summer Show displayed below with thanks to Nicola Desmond for coordinating AOIFA entries. For full results of the show visit the following link.

Class F1 - Summer Surprise

Breda Hayes
First Place

Bernie Hennessy
Second Place

Lila Stanley
Third Place

Marian Colohan
Fourth Place

Class F2 - A Different Perspective

Helen Mullany
First Place

Maeve Duke
Second Place

Breda Crowley
Third Place

Terri Kennedy
Fourth Place

Class F3 - Murmurs of a Summer's Day

Karen Robinson
First Place

Sharon O' Sullivan
Second Place

Esther Ross
Third Place

Paula Hore
Fourth Place

Class F4 - In Classic Style

Maureen Fagan
First Place

Breda Crowley
Second Place

Ann Hester
Third Place

Eileen O'Brien
Fourth Place

Class F5 - Sunburst

Pritesh Hasmukh Shah
First Place
Best in Show

Betty Daunt
Second Place

Ann Clifford
Third Place

Geraldine McCarthy
Fourth Place

Class F6 - Perfectly Formed

Una Fleming
First Place

Karen Robinson
Second Place

Bridget Morley
Third Place

Ann Clifford
Fourth Place

Class H1 - A Hybrid Tea Rose

Bridget Morley
First Place

Rose Hickey
Second Place

Betty Daunt
Third Place

Trio by Bernard Murphy

Abina Ahern

Evelyn Anderson

Lorraine Dwyer

Class H2 - A Floribunda Rose

Abina Ahern
First Place

Lorraine O'Brien
Second Place

Bernard Murphy
Third Place

Lorraine Dwyer

Bridget Morley

Evelyn Anderson

Paula Hore

Una Downey

Class H3 - A Flowering Shrub

Betty Daunt
First Place

Betty Daunt
Second Place

Paula Hore
Third Place

Carmel O' Driscoll
Fourth Place

Abina Ahern
Fifth Place

Mary Halligan
Sixth Place

Class H4 - A Hosta

Katie O' Shea
First Place

Nuala Treacy
Second Place

Frankie Leahy
Third Place

Breda Crowley
Fourth Place

Harriet Phelan
Fifth Place

Class H5 - A Variegated Shrub

Abina Ahern
First Place

Paula Hore
Second Place

Frankie Leahy
Third Place

Carmel O' Driscoll
Fourth Place

Abina Ahern
Fifth Place

Mary Halligan
Sixth Place

Class H6 - 3 Stems Perennial Garden Flowers - Different varieties

Breda Crowley
First Place

Abina Ahern
Second Place

Mary Halligan
Third Place

Rose Hickey
Fourth Place

Paula Hore
Fifth Place

Class H7 - 3 Stems of Ivy - Different Varieties

Rose Hickey
First Place

Trudy Duffy
Second Place

Paula Hore
Third Place

Class H8 - Indoor Flowering Plant - Pot not to exceed 23cm

Jennifer Corkery
First Place

Mary Coyne
Second Place

Katie O' Shea
Third Place

Class H9 - A Cactus - Pot not to exceed 15cm

Mary Coyne
First Place

Bridgette Compton
Second Place

Bridget Morley
Third Place

Harriet Phelan

Teresa Anne Maxwell

Rose Hickey

Class H10 - A Window Box - Not to exceed 75cm in length

Eileen McCarthy
First Place

Frankie Leahy
Second Place

Paul Eaton
Third Place

Maria Reynolds
Fourth Place

Class H11 -A Miniature Garden - On a biscuit tin lid or similar sized base (U16)

Lucy McGrath
First Place

Rachel McGrath
Second Place

Class H12 - Collection of Wildflowers - Arranged in a jar/vase (U16)

Molly Farrell
First Place

Kate Farrell
Second Place

Sofia Murphy
Third Place

Ciarán Keating
Fourth Place

Fionn O' Dwyer
Fifth Place

John Keating
Sixth Place

Robert Duffy

Aoibheann Duffy

Áine O’ Driscoll

Ava Murphy

AOIFA Virtual Floral Art Competition - Imagine 2021

Many thanks to all who entered the AOIFA Virtual Competition this year, organized by Diane Gallagher. We were delighted to see so many entries, all of which are available to view on the AOIFA Facebook Page. Below are the winners of each class as follows.

The full results are available here.

Class 01 - Summer Miscellany

Morlin O' Brien
First Place

Caroline Stewart
Second Place

Terri Kennedy
Third Place

Naomi Mulligan
Very Highly Commended

Siobhan Phelan
Highly Commended

Breda Hayes
Commended

Jacinta Corrigan
Commended

Martine Conway
Commended

Class 02 - Momentum

Harumi Langford
First Place
Best in Show
Most Interpretive Exhibit

Kathleen Barrett
Second Place

Ann Hester
Third Place

Therese Kilcullen
Very Highly Commended

Phil Daly
Highly Commended

Sharon O' Sullivan
Commended

Betty O'Neill
Commended

Ann Clifford
Commended

Class 03 - A New Dawn

Maureen Fagan
First Place
Runner Up: Best in Show

Dolores Hand
Second Place

Crystal Trojek
Third Place

Maeve Duke
Very Highly Commended

Karen Robinson
Highly Commended

Anne Flanagan
Commended

Lorraine O' Brien
Commended

Sheila Gilbert
Commended

Class 04 - Earth's Embroidery

Ann Clifford
First Place

Carol Bone
Second Place

Ursula Eley
Third Place

Brenda Joyce
Very Highly Commended

Geraldine McCarthy
Highly
Commended


Maureen Fagan
Commended

Breda Hayes
Commended

Marion McGee
Commended

AOIFA Council Meeting 2021

Many thanks to all who attended the Council Meeting on November 4th 2021 in Portlaoise.There was a fantastic turnout on the day and the demonstration - "It's a Gift" by Melanie Harris was highly praised by all.

A talk by Cathryn O' Leary from The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the official AOIFA Charity for this term was enlightening and engaging. More information will be available from The Alzheimer Society on our Charities page shortly.

Florence Higgins & Elizabeth Murray

Sylvia Smith & Nuala Tracey
Trim Flower Club

Nora Gallagher, Past AOIFA President Bríd Coonan & Winifred Lynch

Ann Clifford (Vice Chair,) Christine Hughes (Chairperson,)
Elizabeth Murray (Treasurer) & Paula Dowling (Assistant Secretary)

Representatives of Naas Flower & Garden Club
Geraldine Bowdren, Mary Malone, Fionnuala McManus, Maureen Vallely

Masked attendees remained cheerful while complying with Covid-19 Guidelines

Members of the executive welcoming Cathryn O' Leary from The Alzheimer Society of Ireland

Melanie Harris demonstrating
"It's A Gift"

Council Meeting Demonstration: Melanie Harris - "It's A Gift"

AOIFA @ IFFAD April Virtual Competition 2021

Many thanks to the International Friends of Floral Art and Design page for hosting this online competition, and well done to all AOIFA members who participated.

Helen Mullany (Cork Flower Club)
Class 2 - "A Muted Palette - Overlaid"
Third Place

AOIFA @ SAFU Virtual Show 2021

AOIFA were well represented at the South African Flower Union's virtual show in February, titled "When Floral Becomes Art." Entries from AOIFA members below.

Repressed
Anger

Ann Clifford
(Doddervale & Dundrum
Flower Clubs)

Horizontally Inclined

Commended
In the running for: Best Interpretive Design
| Best Use of Colour | Most Evocative Design

Karen O' Farrell

Interpret a Quotation

First Place
'In Nature, nothing is perfect and everything perfect. Trees can be contorted and bent in weird ways and they are still beautiful' (Alice Walker)

Betty O'Neill

Playfully Out of Proportion

Malcolm Kitt
Second Place

Interconnectivity

Malcolm Kitt
First Place

Egyptology in the 21st Century

Malcolm Kitt
Highly Commended

Felt It

Nora Lawton
(Kinsale Flower Club)
Commended

Design With A Plate

Eileen O' Brien
(Kinsale Flower Club)
Second Place

AOIFA @ Toronto Flower Show & Re-Connections

Well done to all who entered this international, virtual floral art show. A full collection of entries and results can be viewed here on the Garden Club of Toronto website, AOIFA entries displayed below.

Class 1 - Dancing on Air
Honourable Mention
Ann Clifford (Doddervale & Dundrum Flower Clubs)

Class 2 - Bursting Forth
Honourable Mention
Christine Hughes
(AOIFA Chairperson)

Class 3 - Together Apart
First Place
Christine Hughes
(AOIFA Chairperson)

International Exhibit
Beverly Buttimer
Clonakilty Garden Club

Class 6 - Tranquil Waters
First Place
Betty O' Neill
(Doddervale Flower Club)

Class 6 - Tranquil Waters
Second Place
Rosemary Smyth
(Maynooth Flower & Garden Club)

Class 8 - Northern Lights
Rosemary Smyth
(Maynooth Flower & Garden Club)

Class 9 - Marvelously Masked
Rosemary Smyth
(Maynooth Flower & Garden Club)

AOIFA @ Cork Summer Virtual Show 2020

Congratulations to all who entered the Cork Summer Virtual Show 2020. Below you can find links to photographs of the exhibits in each class.

Lists of the results can be found here

Class 130 Nature's Pick

Class 131 Inspired by the Unusual

Class 132 Happy Together

Class 133 In Touch with Nature

Cork Summer Virtual Show 2020 Results

As Chairperson of AOIFA, the Association of Irish Floral Artists, I wish to commend and congratulate The Munster Agricultural Society for staging this virtual show.

It was indeed a courageous and worthy thing to do in these restricted and precarious times of Covid-19.

It definitely proves the old adage - “It is better to light a candle that to curse the dark. It has afforded our Floral Artists and Gardeners the opportunity to be productive and creative and to develop their interests and talents.

A well- deserved thank you to Gerard Murphy, Director of The Munster Agricultural Society, who spear headed this virtual show. Thanks goes to his Team and especially to Barbara, in the office, for the work they have done.

Thank you to our AOIFA members: Those who participated in the show and delighted us with their entries

Nicola Desmond, Chairperson of the Floral Art and Horticulture Committee, who liaised with the office on behalf of AOIFA

Bridie Terry who judged the Horticultural Classes

Una Fleming, AOIFA Judge, who judged the Floral Art classes with me.

It has indeed been a very exciting venture.

Thanks and compliments to all.

Comhghairdeas libh go léir!

Mary O’Brien


FLORAL ART RESULTS

AWARDS

1st – Gold

2nd – Silver Gilt

3rd- Silver

4th - Bronze

5th - Commended


BEST IN SHOW: Ann Clifford, Dundrum, Dublin


CLASS – 130 NATURE’S PICK

1st No. 1 – Mary Kiely, Kinsale

2nd No. 4 – Fiona Maguire, Timoleague

3rd No. 7 – Lorraine Dwyer, Belgooly

4th No. 5 – Mary Halligan, Cobh

5th No. 3 – Siobhan Clancy, Fermoy

5th No. 6 – Mary Marshall, Meadstown

CLASS- 131 INSPIRED BY THE UNUSUAL

1st No. 15 - Ann Clifford, Dundrum, Dublin

2nd No. 17 – Melanie Harris, Inniscarra

3rd No. 1 – Beverly Buttimer, Clonakilty

3rd No. 3 – Therese O Reilly, Naas, Co Kildare

4th No. 4 – Nora Lawton, Kinsale

4th No. 8 – Malcolm Kitt, Cobh

4th No. 19 - Eileen O Brien, Kinsale

5th No. 6 – Anna Flanagan, Tramore

5th No. 11 - Margaret Mulchinock, Mallow


CLASS – 132 HAPPY TOGETHER

1st No. 6 – Christine Hughes, Blessington

2nd No. 7 – Rose Hickey, Conna

3rd No. 1 – Helen O Brien, Shanagarry North

4th No. 10 – Betty Daunt, Ballyduff

5th No. 3 – Beverly Buttimer, Clonakilty

5th No. 8 – Teresa Kenefick, Ballymacoda

CLASS – 133 IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

1st No. 6 – Geraldine McCarthy, Doneraile

2nd No. 3 – Anna Flanagan, Tramore

2rd No. 16 – Helen Moorehouse, Enniscorthy

3rd No. 13 – Rita Mulcahy, Ballinhassig

4th No. 10 – Bridget Morley, Oughterard

4th No. 20 – Helen O Brien, Shanagarry North

4th No. 23 - George Madden Newtonabbey

5th No. 2 – Siobhan McInerney, Doneraile

5th No. 5 – Beverly Buttimer, Clonakilty

5th No. 8 – Margaret, Mulchinock, Mallow

5th No. 9 – Nora Gallagher, Macroom

5th No. 12 - Phillippa Crocker, Whakatane, New Zealand


HORTICULTURE RESULTS

Class 140 - A Hybrid Tea Rose

1st Rose Hickey

2nd Bernard Murphy

3rd Evelyn McDonald

Class 141 - A Floribunda Rose

1st Deirdre Keane

2nd Joan Vaughan

3rd Bernard Murphy

Class 142 - A Flowering Shrub

1st Carmel O’Driscoll

2nd Malcolm Kitt

3rd Mary Halligan

Class 143 - A Hosta

1st Nuala Lavelle

2nd Ger Crowley

3rd Frankie Leahy

Class 144 - A Variegated Shrub

1st Paul Eaton

2nd Mary Halligan

3rd Carmel O’Driscoll

Class 145 - 2 Stems Perennial Garden Flowers-different varieties

1st Anna Kiernan

2nd Carmel O’Driscoll

3rd Paul Eaton

Class 146 - Indoor Flowering Plant – pot not to exceed 23cm

1st Eileen Keane

2nd Rose Hickey

Class 147 - A Cactus – pot not to exceed 15cm

1st Leeann Minihan

2nd Bridget Morley

Class 148 - Window Box not to exceed 75cm in length

1st Jennifer Corkery

2nd Paul Eaton

3rd Mary Cotter


Class 149 - 3 Stems of Ivy – different varieties

1st Rose Hickey

2nd Doris Kingston

3rd Leeann Minihan

Class 150 - Indoor Foliage Plant – pot not to exceed 23cm

1st Jennifer Corkery

2nd Nora Lawton

3rd Christy Desmond

AOIFA @ THE WORLD FLOWER SHOW

A Grand Floral Affair, the 13th World Flower Show held in Jaipur, India from the 24 February to 1 March 2020. Click on photo for more AOIFA entries and events that took place during the show.

National Flower Festival 2019

AOIFA held its National Flower Festival ‘Splendor in Flowers and Stone’ in St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh from September 27-29 in support of our designated charity for 2018-2020 - Pieta House.

Click here for more images by Fr. Liam Kelleher

AOIFA competitors at NAFAS Floral Art and Design Show 2019

Congratulations to Christopher White of Naul Flower Club who won the NAFAS Texture Trophy and gained Very Highly Commended for his exhibit in the class Space and Texture. Congratulations also to Kathleen Barrett who was awarded 1st in Space and Texture and to Christine Hughes who was Very Highly Commended and Ann Clifford Commended in the petite class A Little Luxury. Well done to all our members who entered the show.

Kathleen Barrett

1st Space and Texture

Newcastlewest Flower Club

Christine Hughes

Very Highly Commended - A Little Luxury

AOIFA Vice-Chairman

Ann Clifford

Commended - A Little Luxury

Doddervale Flower Club