Friends in the flowers business

Kristina and Justina.

The tradition of giving flowers to mark special thoughts and occasions can be traced all the way back to ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and China, so a new floral enterprise set up in Kilcullen by two friends is building on a very established heritage, writes Brian Byrne.

Stina Flowers have just opened their shop in the former garden centre at the entrance to Leinster Marts on the Newbridge Road, offering a walk-in service five days a week for fresh flowers, bouquets, wreaths, and arrangements for all kinds of occasions.

Justina Rutaviciene and Kristina Plikiene both hail from Lithuania, and worked for seven years in a wholesale flowers operation based in Naas which supplies major retailers like Tesco and Aldi. When both women left to look after their young children, they got the idea to go into business for themselves.

"There was no walk-in shop for flowers in the Kilcullen area," says Justina, whose husband operates the Kilcullen Auto Centre which is also located in the Leinster Marts complex. "So we decided, having long experience in handling flowers, and making bouquets, to go for it."

Justina came to Ireland 16 years ago, visiting an aunt who worked in Kilcullen, and she stayed because she liked the area so much. "Then I met my husband here, he was from the same town in Lithuania but I never knew him then," she says. When she and Kristina, who has been here 11 years, were working in Naas they both lived in Ballymore, where they were neighbours. Kristina now lives in Kilcullen and Justina in Rathangan but they remain close friends.

Stina Flowers — it's clear where the name came from — is open Tuesday-Saturday 9.30am-6pm. In addition to the walk-in service they can take orders by phone 085 2548543 for local delivery. Contact can also be made by email stinaflowershop@gmail.com and on Facebook at StinaFlowers. 

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