Watch: Top brown bread bakers book place in Ploughing finals
Ireland's finest home bakers put their prized recipes to the test today (Tuesday, July 28) as the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA) crowned its national brown bread finalists.
The judging panel featured a star-studded pairing of Louth senior footballer, Conor Grimes, and Ireland AM chef, Edward Hayden, who gave a three-course cooking demonstration prior to judging.
The competition, which took place at An Grianán in Termonfeckin, Co. Louth, involved 26 entries in total, with three loaves selected as winners on the day.
The three ICA brown bread baking finalists are now set to showcase their skills at the National Ploughing Championships' competition in Screggan, Co. Offaly later this year.
From September 15-16, the Ploughing's national brown bread competition will see eight senior finalists display their prized brown bread in the hope of impressing the judges.
Eight junior bakers will also compete in a separate category for the first time in the show's history.
As part of the Ploughing's competition, the three ICA finalists will be joined by five other contestants picked by Euronics, who have sponsored both competitions.
On September 17, the competition will culminate in two bakers being crowned Ireland's best.
The winning senior baker will receive a cash prize of €5,000 and a new oven, while the winning junior baker will walk away with two €1,500 Euronics voucher - one for themselves and one for their school.
ICA
Speaking to Agriland today, ICA president Mary D'Arcy said the brown bread competition is a "very important date" within the association's calendar, garnering strong interest from the county level to the finals.
"We had a winner from Co. Mayo at the Ploughing last year, so we must've started the winning trend over there," she joked in light of the Gaelic football team winning the All-Ireland.
Meanwhile Louth senior football Conor Grimes described the standard amongst today's competition was "incredible".
"I can remember my granny making brown bread, it's just a staple of an Irish household.
"The standard of brown bread today was unbelievable, so well done to all the winners," Grimes added.
