Making Connections – A Weekend to Remember
Dear AOIFA Members,
As we reflect on a truly wonderful weekend in Doneraile, we would like to extend our heartfelt
thanks to everyone who helped make Making Connections – A Floral Celebration of
Community, Heritage and Friendship such a memorable occasion.
To our exhibitors and Flower Club members, thank you for sharing your extraordinary creativity,
talent and imagination. The floral exhibits created within the beautiful settings of Doneraile’s two
churches were a wonderful celebration of floral art, and we are enormously grateful to everyone
who gave so generously of their time and talents.
A very special thank you also goes to the members of Charleville Flower & Garden Club, whose
support, friendship and hard work were such an important part of the festival. From contributing
to the wonderful floral exhibits to helping in so many ways throughout the preparations and the
weekend itself, your generosity of time and spirit was greatly appreciated.
To all our Flower Club members who travelled from near and far to visit and support the
festival, thank you. It was a joy to welcome so many familiar faces, to renew old friendships and
to make new ones. The friendship, creativity and support within our Flower Clubs were at the
very heart of Making Connections.
Our sincere thanks go to our Festival Committee, who worked tirelessly over many months to
bring the event together, and to the many wonderful volunteers and stewards who gave their
time so willingly throughout the weekend. From stewarding and hospitality to sales, traffic
management and the countless unseen jobs behind the scenes, every contribution mattered.
We are deeply grateful to the two church communities of the Church of the Nativity of the
Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Doneraile, who entrusted us with their
beautiful churches and welcomed us with such warmth and generosity.
Thank you also to our sponsors and supporters, our schools and local community, and to the
choirs, musicians and performers who added another very special dimension to the weekend.
Flowers and music complemented each other beautifully throughout the festival.
And, of course, our warmest thanks to everyone who visited us over the two days. The numbers
who came through the doors, the enthusiasm for the exhibits and the many lovely comments we
received made all the months of preparation so worthwhile.
We were even blessed with glorious sunshine throughout the weekend, adding to the wonderful
atmosphere in Doneraile!
We are especially proud that Making Connections has enabled us to support Breast Cancer
Ireland, and we sincerely thank everyone who contributed so generously.
From the beginning, Making Connections was intended to be about much more than flowers. It
was about bringing people together, celebrating creativity, heritage and community, and sharing
the friendship that is such an important part of our Flower Clubs.
After two very special days in Doneraile, we can truly say that connections were made – new
friendships began, old friendships were renewed, creativity was shared and our love of floral art
brought people together.
We are delighted to reveal that we have lodged €13,000 into the AOIFA charity Account for
Breast Cancer Ireland. What a wonderful achievement for all involved. Well done everyone!
The flowers may fade, but we hope the friendships, memories and connections created in
Doneraile will remain with us for a very long time.
To everyone who exhibited, volunteered, stewarded, visited, supported or played any
part – large or small – in making the weekend such a success, thank you from the AOIFA
Executive
