I’ve got two new people who will contribute to this blog from now on. They would be Peter Donegan and the Man on the bridge who would like to remain nameless.

Everyone knows Peter. For those in the village, if you woke early one morning and saw a Big Pink Boat sail past your bedroom [...]]]>

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I’ve got two new people who will contribute to this blog from now on. They would be Peter Donegan and the Man on the bridge who would like to remain nameless.

Everyone knows Peter. For those in the village, if you woke early one morning and saw a Big Pink Boat sail past your bedroom window down the main street you were not dreaming. That Pink boat was the Donegan Landscaping entry for Bloom in the Park 2008.

A pink boat in the garden? sounds nuts! Yes, it was different but I witnessed many many people at the Phoenix Park saying “Wow” and breaking a smile.

It was a refreshing sight for many visitors after looking at hoards of shrubs, trees, bushes, manufactured sculptures and garden furnishings. Don’t get me wrong all the entries were impressive but Peters was alien, balmy, bracing, crisp, different, unique and certainly something to remember.

Think of it like spending all day at a boat show. Eventually you’ll get fed up looking at boats, if someone said did you see the Sherman Tank around the corner you’d have to take a peek.

After Bloom Peter was faced with the dilemma of what to do with an 11 meter 3 tier Pink Boat? Could he give it away or would it have to end up in a skip.

The Pink boat did stir up a little curiosity with Rick O’Shea everyone wanted it and were willing to go and get it.

Hi Peter,
I heard you on with Rick yesterday and I couldn’t believe it. I’ve been trying to convince my wife to allow me to place a boat in our garden for months now instead of a play house for the kids and because we only moved into our new home last November we are still at the early stages with the garden which stands at about 1.5 acres. With all this in mind I dragged Tre and my kids aged 4, 7 and 10 by the way, along to Bloom and we did laugh when we saw your boat and the way your garden was created. It was fab. We came away from Bloom with great ideas and we decided to look out for a boat instead of a standard play house. When I heard you on yesterday with Rick I had to text immediately. I am the guy with the lorry and crane and can take it immediately.

The good news is eventually the perfect home was found for it. Where it can stand proud year in year out its going or should I say its gone to Electric Picnic, what a journey!

Now, I know tonight tonight is the wrap up party/thank you for all those involved. I’m sure there will be many stories we dont know yet!

Bloom in the Park is the largest and most spectacular gardening event [...]]]> I recieved an email recently which reminded me of a converation I had recently with Peter Donegan and Eoghan McCabe at the Dublin Open Coffee Club. Peter and co are preparing for Bloom 2008. I am looking forward to seeing their project when its complete.

Bloom in the Park is the largest and most spectacular gardening event in Ireland, hosted by Bord Bia. Its a competition of sorts where gardeners can get creative as they like.

Last year Peters peice was No Rubber Soul. Usually the idea of an old car in the garden is for the chickens but not this baby, some might say it was far fetched but infact it was very rock and roll.

When it comes to being creative Peter knows no boundries and is known for “pushing the boat out”. This year Peter is plonking a 1957 33ft 7 tonne , three story pleasure cruise boat in the middle of the Phoenix Park and is building a marina around it!

The boat/build started over the bank holiday weekend with the boat making its first voyage. It took 7 men, a 30 tonne specialist marine transporter and 6 hours to lift and move it 6 km.

I was hoping to capture the boats arrival onsite using Qik but last weeks Duke’s of Hazard stunt crippled my car so I never made it. Peter is painting the boat pink, which seems a little odd but I doubt it could be worse than what Stephen Ireland did to his Range Rover.

Alone it’s costing over one thousand Euros in paint. I recently had a chat with Peter and it came as no surprise that it costs money to put it altogether but, I was surprised to hear exactly how much it would cost.

This 1957 33ft pleasure cruiser has a little bit of history, but I’ll leave that story there, Peter might tell you. I’ll pop along and capture some of the moments on Qik and follows its maiden voyage!