Blooming in the sunshine

Sometimes we get a taste of what this country could be like if we had real summers.

This weekend is one. Not just the best weather we've had for years, but it was accurately flagged by our forecasters. For once they didn't have to apologise as they faced us through the TV screens. It was coming, they promised, and it did come.

And if you wanted to see that we're well capable of enjoying glorious sunshine and all that it means, no better place was the Bloom Festival in Dublin's Phoenix Park.

Gardens or course. And gardening stuff. And gardening advice. And food of all kinds, the speciality stuff. Good breads, cheeses, relishes, meats. You can buy enough food for the day, and more, at the Bord Bia-sponsored marquee. Or you can go for the more traditional fare from all kinds of food vans.

There's also the super facility that is the Phoenix Park. Down here in Kilcullen we have our own rural advantages, places to walk, places to relax. And the river runs through us.

But Dublin's summer lung is the park, and the OPW once again provided a superb location for the Bloom festival.



So, just in case you didn't get to it yet, the Diary presents a set of pictures that might just give you a flavour of the event.

And for today, if you go yourself, here's a hint: the hottest spot in the place is outside the south wall of the Kitchen Garden. Bring your own picnic, including water bottle which you can refill free. A rug, and sunscreen. Y'see, we're always optimists at the Diary. (Besides, the weather forecasters already told us.)