Summer sun for Longford Flower Festival

Visitors to Moyne over the Bank Holiday weekend would have been forgiven for thinking they were in Spain.

The weather was not the only factor imparting the Andalusia flavour, the white painted patio, with flower details, also gave a distinct feel of the south of the Iberian Peninsula, while the haunting Flamenco music filled the air.

Longford Flower Festival invokes the spirit of Córdoba in its celebration of arts culture and heritage in North Longford.

Raquel Montero Calero is the main organiser of the event and draws on her Córdoban heritage for inspiration. At this time of the year the people of the Southern Spanish city decorate their houses with flowers planted in beds and pots, which either hang from the walls or are placed on paving stones.

The Longford festival came to its climax on Sunday: “We held a floral market with local food producers, craft makers, artists, environmentalists, and professional gardeners welcoming all ages to celebrate together the power of flowers. Local musicians and entertainment enhanced the festivity of the day,” Raquel said.

The gathering took place in the patio, which is the old priest's house transformed into a large-scale art installation. Works on display were created by different community groups, sculptures, and flower arrangers from across Longford prior to the day of the Festival.

“I came up with the idea because the priest house in the Latin school hasn't been used in around 20 years,” Raquel said of the Festival's origins, “I suggested to the local men shed that we should do something with this building.”

Last Sunday's celebration was the second run of the Festival, following up on the original held in 2022. The highlight of the day was the concert at the Latin School Community Centre: “This live concert featured the amazing Spanish guitar player Juan Jose Manzano and Rebeca Sanchez , the wonderful Spanish singer and dancer who performed at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland,” Raquel concluded.