The United Parishes of Malahide, Portmarnock and St Doulagh’s are delighted that the top floral artist and former Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist Christopher White is directing a spectacular flower festival to take place next month in St Andrew’s Parish Church in Malahide, which is celebrating its bicentenary. Taking place over the weekend of June 9-11, the Festival will be launched by RTE weather presenter Joanna Donnelly. Joanna, who spoke about her love of flowers and gardening in a recent edition of the RTE Guide, will perform the official opening at 2pm on Friday 9th June in a short ceremony at which the Choir of St Brigid’s Girls’ National School in Killester will sing. The Festival-which is entitled ‘The Good News in Flowers’ and recalls in more than 30 displays major events in the life of Christ, will remain open on Friday (until 8pm) and Saturday (10am-8pm), with refreshments available in the St Andrew’s Parish Centre until 5.30pm, and will open again after Morning Service on the Sunday at 12.30pm, with refreshments also available until 5.30pm. A Closing Service, on the Sunday at 6pm, to which all are welcome, will be sung by the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, under the direction of Tom Little.
Christopher White is much in demand as a floral artist, and he is taking time out of a very busy schedule to co-ordinate this special event, which features work by flower arrangers from all over the country. A few days after the Malahide flower festival he will be in Gloucester Cathedral at the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies National Show where the UK’s premier designers showcase their work.
And, later in the summer, he will also be involved in the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show, where he has previously won a gold medal. The Rector, Reverend Canon David Gillespie said the festival was the latest in a number of events to mark the bicentenary of St Andrew’s Church which is one of the oldest buildings in Malahide village.“This is a very significant year for us, and we wanted to do something special to mark it which would be enjoyable for everyone. If the number of enquiries we have received are anything to go by, we expect to be very busy but it will be great to welcome visitors to this lovely part of North County Dublin from all over the country.” Entry to the flower festival is €10 and includes a commemorative colour brochure detailing the 30 plus flower arrangements on display – all of which have been generously donated by parishioners of St Andrew’s in memory of loved ones. All proceeds from the Flower Festival are to go towards the cost of a new organ in the parish church.