National brown bread baking competition returns
The event, sponsored by retailer Euronics, is organised by the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA) and attracts entries from bakers across the country.
The final of this year's competition will take place at the National Ploughing Championships, Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
Eight finalists will take to the stage to bake their brown breads for the judges in the semi-finals on September 16 and 17, with the winner crowned on during the final on September 18.
The overall winner will take home a cash prize of €5,000, along with a NEFF Slide & Hide oven worth over €2,000.
The three finalists on September 18 will be presented with a €500 Euronics gift card and all other finalists will be given a €250 Euronics gift card and a Neff hamper.
Brown bread
Five bakers will be invited to join the three finalists from the ICA who will be chosen at the national event in ICA headquarters on July 21.
All successful entrants will be contacted on August 11 and invited to attend The National Ploughing Championships Brown Bread Baking Tent.
All entrants (one entry per person) are being asked to drop their freshly baked bread to one of the stores below (all part of the Euronics group) on the prescribed dates between 9:00a.m and 11:00a.m.
Bakers are asked to note that bread will not be accepted in the stores outside of these times.
The following is a list of the brown bread drop off locations, dates and time:
Friday, July 18
J O'Mahonys Prosperous, Downings North, Prosperous, Co. Kildare;
Grange Baldoyle, Unit 48G, Baldoyle Ind Est, Baldoyle, Co. Dublin;
Mastercare in Killester, 164 Howth Road, Clontarf West, Killester;
Heavins, A1&A2 Shannon Retail Park, Dublin Road, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Friday, July 25
Bandon Co-Op, Kilbrogan , Bandon, Co Cork;
Jack Fitzgerald, Howleys Quay, Prior's Land, Limerick;
Joyce's Hardware & Home Galway Road, Cuilleen, Headford, Co. Galway.
Friday, August 1
Redmond Electric, Unit 6 WFC Retail Park, The Avenue, Gorey, Co. Wexford;
Keans Claremorris, Mount Street, Clare, Claremorris, Co. Mayo;
Brodericks Westport, 5 Castlebar Road, Westport, Co. Mayo;
Harrys Electric Unit 2 Moynehall Retail Park, Ballinagh Road, Cavan.
Daragh Lynch, Euronics Ireland chief executive, said the company was delighted to return for a second year to sponsor the competition.
'Ovens of all shapes and sizes bake brown bread every day across Ireland and we look forward to tasting all the entries.
'Last year we were blown away by how many brown bread bakers entered their breads – dropping them at various Euronics stores,' he said.
NPA managing director Anna May McHugh said: 'We are delighted to welcome back Euronics to the National Ploughing Championships.
'The first national brown bread baking competition took place at the Ploughing in 1954 and it is wonderful to see that the competition is still as popular now as it was then.'
Mary D'Arcy, ICA national president added: 'Our members always enjoy taking part in the National Brown Bread Baking competition to find the best brown bread in Ireland and I am sure this year will be no different.'
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