Clonakilty Flower Club - News & Events

Dates for Diary

Summer Outing: Club outing to Waterford will be on Saturday 13 July 2024.

Annual Dinner Jan 2025
The Clonakilty Flower Club Annual Dinner will be held on Friday 24th January 2025 in the Park Hotel in Clonakilty. We are looking forward to seeing you all there

Floral Artist of the Year & Inter Club 2024

Well done to Carmel, who qualified for the Floral Artist of the Year and Bev and Jane who qualified for the Inter Club. Beverley, Jane & Carmel will represent the club in the Talbot hotel in Wexford on 4-6th October 2024.

A.O.I.F.A 50th Anniversary

The Clonakilty contingency who attended the A.O.I.F.A 50th Anniversary celebrations in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise.

AGM 2023

The Clonakilty Flower Club AGM will be held on Sept 11th 2023 at 8pm in O'Donovan's Hotel. We are looking forward to seeing you all there.

Cancer Connect - May 2023

Clonakilty Flower Club Officers and Committee presenting a cheque for €2,000 to Jim Murphy on behalf of Cancer Connect, being part of the proceeds of our Gala night in May

Annual Charity Gala 2023

Our Annual Charity Gala will take place on Monday, May 8th at the GAA Complex, Ahamilla, Clonakilty at 8pm. Paula Dowling, AOIFA will be our demonstrator. Tickets cost €20, which includes a complimentary glass of Prosecco or fruit juice before, and tea and refreshments after the demonstration. In addition, all door tickets will be entered into a free draw. As in previous years, there will be a sales table. We will be delighted to accept plants for this at any time during the afternoon. Tickets will be on sale for our main raffle, the prizes for which will be arrangements produced by our distinguished demonstrator, Paula. The theme of the arrangements is “Dreams of Summer”.

The proceeds of the night will be divided between this year’s AOIFA nominated National Charity, AsIAm, and local charity, Cancer Connect. We would appreciate if you could book and collect tickets in advance if at all possible, in order to avoid congestion. Tickets will also be available at the door. You may contact me at any time, either by email, using the contact box on the website or on my mobile. I look forward to seeing you all on the night. Please spread the word and bring along as many friends as possible.

Club trip to Dublin - June 25th and 26th

The club is planning a trip to Dublin, taking in four gardens, on June 25th and 26th. Total cost including bus, gardens and overnight stay in Glenview hotel, Wicklow is approximately 200 euro. To reserve a place a deposit of 100 euro is required by the 6th of April.

CLASS 1 “ CHRISTMAS GLOW ” NOVICE
An Exhibit to feature candle/candles
Space Allowed: Width 70cm, Depth 60cm.
To be staged against a plain background and photographed from the front.
Artificial Plant Material may be used.

CLASS 2 “AN ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS TREE” OPEN

An Exhibit

Space Allowed: Width 80cm, Depth 70cm, Height 106cm.
An Exhibit without the use of floral foam
To be staged against a plain background and photographed from the front.
Artificial Plant Material may be used.

CLASS 3 “SEASONAL SIMPLICITY” OPEN

An Exhibit
Space Allowed: Width 80cm, Depth 70cm, Height 106cm.
To be staged against a plain background and photographed from the front.
Artificial Plant Material may be used.

CLASS 4 “A SEASON OF ENCHANTMENT” OPEN
An Exhibit
Space Allowed: Width 80cm, Depth 70cm, Height 106cm.
To be staged against a plain background and photographed from the front.
Artificial plant material may be used.

CLASS 5 “ EMBELLISHED WITH FLAIR ” OPEN
An Exhibit - A Card to Feature Plant Material
Space Allowed: Width 20cm, Depth 20cm, Height 25cm.
To be staged against a plain background and photographed from the front.
Artificial plant material may be used.

REGULATIONS

1. Exhibits to be judged in accordance with the NAFAS Competitions Manual Third Edition 2015
2. (a) Novice – An exhibitor who has not won a first prize at a major show. A Novice may also enter an Open Class.
(b) Those holding an AOIFA qualification are ineligible to enter the Novice Class.
3. All exhibits must be the unaided work of the competitor.
4. Online Entries will open on the 15th November 2021 closing on the 28th November 2021. Online Entries Only – www.corksummershow.com
Note: Competitors may enter as many classes as they wish but may not stage more than one entry per class.

STAGING & RESULTS
Enter class by logging on to the Cork Summer Show Website. Pick your class under Floral Art and you will be asked to attach the photograph. Only one photograph of your exhibit is required. A 30cm ruler is to be included in the photograph.
• In the event of a Pavé or Tapestry please submit an aerial photograph.
• Each competitor’s exhibit will be allocated a number and forwarded to the Judges.
• Results will be announced weekend of the 4th December 2021 (updates on AOIFA web site & Faebook)
• Entry €5 per Entry

QUERIES

Nicola Desmond, Floral Art Chairperson
086 8515371 (after 6pm) or email nicola.desmond74@gmail.com

CLASS 1 “FESTIVE WELCOME” NOVICE
Craft Class- An Exhibit in the form of a swag.
Space Allowed: Width 80 cm, Depth 20cm, Height 100cm.
Exhibit to hang against a plain background and photographed from the front.
Artificial plant material may be used. (A swag is an exhibit designed to hang against a surface. All components are assembled without a visible background.)

CLASS 2 “A CHANCE TO SHINE” OPEN
An Exhibit
Space Allowed: Width 80cm, Depth 70cm, Height 106cm.
To be staged against a plain background and photographed from the front.
Artificial plant material may be used.

CLASS 3 “BLIZZARD” OPEN
An Exhibit
Space Allowed: Width 80cm, Depth 70cm, Height 106cm.
To be staged against a plain background and photographed from the front.
Artificial Plant Material may be used.

CLASS 4 “SEASONAL SPLENDOUR” OPEN
An Exhibit
Space Allowed: Width 80cm, Depth 70cm, Height 106cm.
To be staged against a plain

CLASS 5 “MAGIC MOMENT” OPEN
An Exhibit - A Card to Feature Plant Material
Space Allowed: Width 25cm, Depth 25cm, Height 37cm.
To be staged against a plain background and photographed from the front.
Artificial plant material may be used.

REGULATIONS

1. Exhibits to be judged in accordance with the NAFAS Competitions Manual Third Edition 2015
2. Judges for the show are Mary O’Brien, NAFAS National Judge & Una Fleming, A.O.I.F.A.
3. (a) Novice – An exhibitor who has not won a first prize at a major show. A Novice may also enter an Open Class.
(b) Those holding an AOIFA qualification are ineligible to enter the Novice Class.
4. All exhibits must be the unaided work of the competitor.
5. Online Entries will open on the 5th December 2020 closing on the 10th December 2020. Online Entries Only – www.munsteragriculturalsociety.com
Note: Competitors may enter as many classes as they wish but may not stage more than one entry per class.

STAGING & RESULTS
Enter class by logging on to the Munster Agricultural Society Website. Pick your class under Floral Art and you will be asked to attach the photograph. Only one photograph of your exhibit is required. A 30cm ruler is to be included in the photograph.
• In the event of a Pavé or Tapestry please submit an aerial photograph.
• Each competitor’s exhibit will be allocated a number and forwarded to the Judges.
• Results will be announced weekend of the 18th December (we will keep the A.O.I.F.A. social media updated)
• Entry €5 per Entry
• Electronic Certificates will be awarded.

QUERIES

Nicola Desmond, Floral Art Chairperson, 086 8515371 (after 6pm) or email nicola.desmond74@gmail.com

October 2020 Club Virtual Competition

In normal times, we would be heading back to Fernhill House Hotel for the first meeting of the new year. However, like all organisations, we will try and keep everyone involved by having our own virtual competition, both for decorative and horticultural classes. All you need to do for our competition is to get a photograph of your exhibit and email it to clonakiltyflowerclub@gmail.com
Also, if you are not on Facebook, or have no email address, this is the time to involve family or friends as AOIFA has lovely demonstrations every week on its Facebook page.

Hints for taking photographs of your exhibits;
1.Put your exhibit in front of a plain wall;
2.Have your back to the light when taking the photograph so that the light is falling on the exhibit. Daylight is good for taking the photograph-especially morning light.
3.Have a go!!!

Decorative Classes;

BEGINNERS; “AUTUMN GLOW” AN EXHIBIT SPACE ALLOWED 60CM.
Please put a 30 cm. ruler in front of your exhibit when taking the photograph so that the judge can estimate the size of your exhibit.

INTERMEDIATE; “AUTUMN GATHERING” AN EXHIBIT TO INCLUDE SOME DRIED PLANT MATERIAL. SPACE ALLOWED 60 CM.
Please put a 30 cm. ruler in front of your exhibit when taking the photo so that the judge can estimate the size of the exhibit

ADVANCED; "AUTUMN RENEWAL" AN EXHIBIT IN AN UPCYCLED CONTAINER. SPACE ALLOWED 60 CM.
Please place a 30 cm ruler in front of your exhibit when taking your photo so that the judge can estimate the size of the exhibit.

Horticulture;
1. ANY THREE GARDEN FLOWERS
2. TWO DAHLIAS (DIFFERENT)

CLOSING DATE 23rd OCTOBER. Have fun and please let us have a great entry!

Upcoming events

I know it’s very disappointing for you all not to be able to return to club events as hoped this September 2020. To compensate, in some small way for that, a programme of virtual talks / demonstrations is being provided on the AOIFA Facebook page as follows:

· A series of short demonstrations by our Demonstrators will commence on this Thursday, 10th September.
· Seasonal gardening advice by Denise Gill, RHSI and South Dublin Flower Club
· Cultivation of plants suitable for floral art by Malcolm Kitt, Cobh Flower and Horticulture Club
· Favourites through the Gardening Year by Bríd Kelleher, Sutton Floral Art Group
· Remedies for the Winter season by Mary Frahill, Cobh Flower and Horticulture Club.

Covid-19 update

As you are all aware, our club activities have been severely restricted since the seriousness of the current Covid-19 pandemic became known in March of this year. Since then, the officers have been keeping matters under constant review. The latest situation is such that there is no immediate prospect of a resumption of normal activity. Accordingly, we are suspending all activity until December 2020 at the earliest. At an officers’ meeting held on Monday June 29th it was agreed that the present officers would remain in place until September 2021 and that the membership renewal date would be deferred until then. The national organisation, AOIFA, has suspended all meetings until March 2021. Our Facebook page will remain active.
In the meantime, we will be keeping matters under careful review and we will communicate with everyone as and when necessary. Until we can all meet again, we wish everyone well and we hope that you continue to stay safe.