Blooming Beautiful Irish Flowers - 10 of the Best

Flowers are perfect for special gifts - but not all flowers are equal. Fresh, lively, seasonal flowers from a local grower will out-class the superficial perfection of imported ones any day - and many of our home grown blooms have beautiful natural fragrance too, which is rarely the case with those flown in from afar. And, as well as the pleasure given to the recipient, there’s the satisfaction of supporting Irish businesses too - just like our food producers, flower farmers urgently need our help. For most, weddings and events are usually their main business, so retail sales are hugely important when weddings are limited. Many are members of the association Flower Farmers of Ireland which promotes sustainably grown local, seasonal flowers and is the go-to reference site for finding local Irish flower farmers. Even early in the season, all of those listed below can provide delivery locally and, in some cases, nationally, for special dates like Mother’s Day and Easter - and you’ll also find local flower growers at Farmers’ Markets and on the NeighbourFood website. 

Elmgrove Farm 
Gormanstown Co Meath
Tel: 041 9884389; Email: info@elmgrove farm.ie

Farmer and journalist Darragh McCullough grows 75 acres of flowers on his Co Meath farm and offers an excellent all-year service with free all-Ireland delivery of freshly picked, seasonal flowers. Great value too - from €30 for an Irish springtime bouquet (including a donation to the Irish Cancer Society) to €100 for a 6-week flower subscription - and Elmgrove Farm is also a good place to buy your bulbs for next season. ORDER HERE 
  

Flowers From The Secret Garden
Newmarket Co Cork
Tel: 086 1200 269; Email: sarah@thesecretgardener.com

Having started her North Cork floristry business in 2010 using mainly imported flowers for weddings, Sarah Evans soon changed course dramatically - instead, she now enjoys providing something ‘unique and different from the high-street florist or supermarket’ and only uses imported (EU grown) flowers when needed to supplement her beautiful seasonal Irish ones. Delivery in North Cork; call or email for further information and to order.

The Flowerfield 
Tinahely Co Wicklow
Tel: 087 9493632; Email: myflowerfield@gmail.com

Originally trained as a landscape architect Britta Baranowsky now grows flowers sustainably at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains. Dried arrangements are available off-season, fresh seasonal flowers from mid-March onwards, and she supplies BrookLodge & Macreddin Village as well as local markets. Deliveries in North Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin - contact directly for ordering details or, for Dun Laoghaire NeighbourFood collection, ORDER HERE

Between the Briars 
Glanmire Co Cork
Email: betweenthebriars@gmail.com

Taylor Nelsen and his partner Kevin run their small flower farm on the sustainable ‘no-dig’ system, producing fresh flowers from April to October; off season they may pair Irish grown foliages with European-grown flowers for special holidays. Prices range from about €25 (their newsletter gives updates and special discount codes) and they offer Cork city and Glanmire area deliveries three times weekly, plus nationwide delivery by courier. ORDER HERE  

Big Sky Flowers 
Mullingar Co Westmeath
Tel: 087 2222562;

’Big Sky small grower’ is the mantra at Anne Browne’s unusual midlands ‘micro flower farm’, which is split between her suburban garden and a field beside Lough Owel. Her designs tend to have an artful simplicity that is very appealing and Flower Growing courses are offered too. Deliveries in Mullingar and the surrounding area. ORDER HERE
  

Bell Meadow 
Tullow Co Carlow
Tel: 086 076 9720 ; Email: bellmeadowireland@gmail.com

Maria Ryan is relatively new to flower farming and, following on from a previous career path, offers other gifts and cards on her website as well as beautiful fresh and dried flowers grown on land that has been in her husband’s family for generations. Local and nationwide delivery is offered (flat rate €5), and you can order online for collection from NeighbourFood Carlow. Neighbourfood ORDER HERE 

From Seekings 
Ballymacoda Co Cork
Tel: 860439930; Email: fromseekings@gmail.com

It’s all about sustainability for former solicitor Anna Hogan, now a full time no-chemical flower farmer in East Cork. As well as her farming and seasonal floristry, this unstoppable woman makes preserves and sustainably produced skin care products, and offers courses. Mother’s Day voucher / bouquet €35 / €45 ORDER HERE 

Howe Hill Flowers 
Kilbrittain Co Cork
879376148 hello@howehillflowerfarm.com

Former designer and milliner, West Cork flower farmer Flicky Howe-Prior is the eleventh generation of the Howe family to make a living from the soil in this lovely coastal area. Nurturing it with seaweed from the beach and manure from a nearby farmyard, she grows a wide range of flowers, sometimes supplemented by certified Fair Trade EU imports. Her online eco flowers shop includes lovely items for special dates like Mothers Day from about €12.50-€50, with delivery between Kinsale and Clonakilty. ORDER HERE 

Ruth Fortune Flowers 
Glandore Co Cork
Tel: 086 3606830; Email: ruthfortuneflowers@gmail.com

Since 2013, former architect Ruth Fortune has specialised in offering natural, seasonal Irish-grown flowers from her West Cork garden, for weddings and special occasions. They’re available from mid-March until late September - and you’ll find her at Skibbereen Farmers’ Market throughout the season. Ruth also offers workshops, and can deliver in West Cork. Visit the website to see her style, and contact her directly for full details and to place an order.

Amelia's Garden Flowers
Roberstown Co Kildare
Tel: 086 6007478; Email: ameliaraben@gmail.com

“Flowers are in my blood,” says Amelia Raben, whose grandfather was a flower farmer in the 1950s. So, although trained in Interior Design, she followed her destiny to become a flower farmer and florist, working mainly from a cutting garden near Clane. Outside the growing season she works with dried material and her lovely dried flower wreaths are available heading into spring and early summer, as the new season picks up. Amelia offers workshops as well as flowers for all occasions (including weekly subscriptions), with delivery in Kildare and Dublin. Phone or message Amelia for full details.