Our Story
Where Every Petal
Balenqui was born in the spring of 2016, when Siobhán and Pádraig Ní Bhriain planted their first rows of sweet peas, cornflowers, and cosmos on a half-acre plot just outside Loughrea. The land had been in the family for three generations, used mostly for grazing, but Siobhán had long held a vision of turning it into something that would bloom with colour each year.
That first season was equal parts exhilarating and humbling. Some crops thrived in the Galway rain while others struggled. The couple learned to read the soil, to understand which varieties could handle the Atlantic winds and which needed the shelter of a polytunnel. By the end of their first summer, they were selling small bunches at the Loughrea Farmers' Market, and the response from the local community was overwhelmingly warm.
Encouraged by those early customers who returned week after week, they expanded to a full acre the following year. A second polytunnel went up in 2018, allowing them to extend the growing season into autumn and start earlier in spring. By 2019, Balenqui had become a recognised name among florists and event planners across the west of Ireland.
Today the farm covers just over three acres, with dedicated cutting gardens, a seed nursery, and a small workshop where all arrangements are designed. The ethos remains the same as on day one: grow the most beautiful, fragrant flowers possible without harming the land that sustains them.
Every decision we make on the farm is guided by a few simple principles. These values shape how we grow, how we design, and how we connect with the people who bring our flowers into their homes and celebrations.
We never use synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilisers on our land. Instead, we rely on composting, crop rotation, and companion planting to maintain healthy soil. Our beds are mulched with locally sourced straw, and we encourage beneficial insects by maintaining wildflower strips along every field boundary. The result is a living, breathing ecosystem where flowers grow as nature intended, resilient and full of vitality. We also collect rainwater for irrigation and use biodegradable wrapping materials for all our bouquets. Sustainability is not a marketing badge for us. It is a daily practice embedded in every task, from seed sowing to delivery.
We believe flowers are most beautiful when they tell the story of their season. Rather than importing out-of-season blooms or forcing growth in heated glasshouses, we embrace the natural calendar. Spring brings daffodils, tulips, and ranunculus. Summer fills the beds with roses, sweet peas, and foxgloves. Autumn arrives with dahlias, zinnias, and copper beech. Even winter offers hellebores and evergreen foliage. This approach means our arrangements change throughout the year, and each order captures a fleeting moment in the Irish growing season. We find that our customers appreciate this connection to nature, and many say the seasonal variety is what keeps them coming back.
Balenqui exists because of the support of our local community, and we strive to give back in meaningful ways. We offer free farm tours to local schools, teaching children where flowers come from and how they grow. We supply blooms at reduced cost for community events in the Loughrea and south Galway area, from church festivals to sports club fundraisers. We also collaborate with other small Irish growers, purchasing supplementary stems from farms in Clare, Roscommon, and Tipperary rather than importing from overseas wholesalers. Supporting the local economy and keeping money within Irish communities matters deeply to us as a family-run business.
Every stem that leaves our farm is cut by hand, conditioned in fresh water, and arranged with attention that a production line could never replicate. Siobhán personally designs each wedding consultation piece, and our small team of three arrangers handles all subscription boxes and bespoke orders. We never outsource our design work. This hands-on approach means we can guarantee freshness and quality. It also means we can accommodate special requests, unusual colour palettes, and last-minute changes in a way that larger operations simply cannot. When you receive a Balenqui bouquet, you can be sure that human hands touched every petal.
We are proud to be part of the growing movement of Irish flower farmers reclaiming the cut-flower trade from international imports. For decades, the vast majority of flowers sold in Ireland were flown in from countries with entirely different climates, often treated with preservation chemicals to survive the journey. Our blooms travel no more than a few metres from field to workshop, and no more than a day from workshop to your door. This means fewer air miles, no chemical preservatives, and flowers that arrive as fresh as the morning dew they were cut in. Choosing Irish-grown flowers is a small but meaningful step towards a more local, sustainable way of living.
Flower farming in Ireland is still a relatively young craft, and we learn something new every season. We attend grower conferences in the UK and Europe, trial new heritage varieties each spring, and keep detailed records of what performs best in our specific microclimate. We share this knowledge freely through our seasonal newsletter and occasional workshops held at the farm. Siobhán has also completed training in floral design at the Constance Spry school tradition, blending modern sustainable practice with classic technique. We believe that the best growers and designers never stop being students of the natural world.
Siobhán and Pádraig plant their first half-acre of sweet peas, cosmos, and cornflowers on the family land outside Loughrea.
Balenqui bouquets appear at the Loughrea Farmers' Market for the first time. Every bunch sells out before noon.
Encouraged by demand, the farm doubles in size. First polytunnel erected, allowing ranunculus and early tulips to be grown.
Siobhán completes advanced floral design training. Balenqui begins offering bespoke wedding services across Connacht.
Delivery services launch nationwide. The monthly flower subscription box is introduced, reaching homes across all 26 counties.
The farm reaches three acres with over 80 flower varieties. A dedicated design studio is built on the property.
Celebrating ten years of growing, Balenqui is now one of Ireland's most recognised artisan flower farms, serving hundreds of weddings and thousands of happy customers.
Balenqui is a small team with a big heart. Every person here shares a genuine love for flowers, for the land, and for making people smile with the beauty that comes from our fields.
Siobhán started Balenqui with a dream and a packet of sweet pea seeds. With over a decade of growing experience and advanced floral design training, she leads all wedding consultations and oversees every bouquet that leaves the farm. Her eye for colour and texture has earned a loyal following among couples and event planners across Ireland.
Pádraig manages the fields, soil health, and infrastructure of the farm. A third-generation farmer who grew up on this very land, he brings practical knowledge of the Galway climate and a deep respect for sustainable agriculture. He also handles all delivery logistics and keeps the polytunnels in peak condition year-round.
Róisín joined the team in 2020, bringing a background in fine art and a natural gift for colour composition. She handles much of the daily bouquet assembly and subscription box curation. Her arrangements are characterised by an effortless, garden-gathered style that customers love.
Eoin is a horticulture graduate from GMIT who works with us from March through October, handling planting, weeding, harvesting, and everything in between. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and his knowledge of plant science has helped us trial many successful new varieties.
Balenqui sits on gently sloping ground just south of Loughrea, sheltered on the northern side by a mature hedgerow of hawthorn and blackthorn. The soil is a well-draining loam over limestone, ideal for many of the perennials and bulbs we grow. The Galway climate gives us mild winters, plenty of rainfall, and cool summers that are perfect for extending the vase life of cut flowers.
We have three main growing areas: the outdoor cutting garden, which produces the bulk of our summer and autumn stems; two polytunnels where we grow heat-loving crops like ranunculus, lisianthus, and celosia; and the nursery beds where we raise thousands of seedlings each spring. A small orchard of crab apple trees provides blossom branches for spring arrangements, while our hedgerows contribute berries, rosehips, and autumnal foliage.
The farm is also home to a family of resident barn swallows, several species of bumblebee that thrive on our pollen-rich beds, and a hedgehog population that helps keep slug numbers in check. We see our role as custodians of this patch of Galway countryside, growing beauty while protecting the biodiversity that makes it possible.
We welcome visitors by appointment throughout the growing season, typically from April through October. A farm visit is the best way to experience the colours, scents, and atmosphere of Balenqui first-hand. Whether you are a bride-to-be scouting for wedding inspiration, a keen gardener curious about cut-flower growing, or simply someone who loves flowers, we would be delighted to show you around.
During your visit, you will walk the cutting gardens, peek inside the polytunnels, and see our design workshop where all arrangements come to life. We can also offer a pick-your-own experience during peak summer months, allowing you to create your own custom bouquet straight from the field. Farm visits last approximately 45 minutes and are offered free of charge.