Ann Marie’s passion for floral art takes her around the country
A Tubbercurry native who recently received a Diploma is teaching in Floral Art will be taking part in the national flower festival in Ardee from June 8- 9.
Ann Marie Wright has previously won a gold medal at Bloom.
“It was two years now this summer, hard to believe. It was a wonderful experience,” she reflects while speaking to The Sligo Champion.
She added: “I had just finished an advanced floral art course and entered the novice category in the floral art competition with the Association of Irish Floral Artists ( AOIFA) titled ‘ Bold and Beautiful’ alongside some other flower colleagues I had met along the way. Never expecting to get placed, I was not present when the results were announced the following morning at 8.30pm and remember saying to my sister- in- law in Dublin that morning that ‘ someday I will win a medal at Bloom’, not realising that I had already. An hour later as I arrived at the Phoenix park, looking forward to a day of viewing all the gardens and floral exhibits, a friend through flowers from Galway phoned me to say I had won a gold medal. I did have to ring her back to check if I had heard correct! The walk from the car park to the AOIFA tent was somewhat disorientated to say the least.”
There will be no Bloom for Ann Marie this year, but that doesn’t mean she won’t be busy.
“I will be taking part in the AOIFA national flower festival with my flower colleague Kathleen Lynch from Coolaney. The flower festival supporting cancer research takes place in Ardee, 8th to 9th June.
“We took part in the previous national flower festival held in Ennis supporting Irish Motor Neurone Disease creating an exhibit together titled ‘ Rugged Beauty’.
“With that given title, representing County Sligo, we created Queen Meave on Knocknarea which was very enjoyable and admired by many including Marty Morrisey who opened the festival. When people enjoy viewing the final creation, it makes it all the more worth while together with making many friends through flowers which is the motto of the Association of Irish Flower Artists.”
Ann Marie says she wants to encourage others to follow their dreams.
“Sometimes all one needs is encouragement and support and a few kind words and hope I can give that encouragement to people to knock from their shoulders the negative voices in their ears and follow their heart no matter now small their ambition is.”