The search for Ireland’s best brown bread is back, as this year’s National Brown Bread Baking Competition has been officially launched.

The annual event, sponsored by retailer Euronics, is organised by the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA).

This year sees the addition of a Junior Brown Bread Baking Competition, giving young brown bread bakers aged 12–18 the chance to showcase their skills alongside Ireland’s best home bakers.

Brown bread

A total of 16 finalists (8 senior and 8 junior) will take to the stage to bake their brown breads in the National Ploughing Championships Brown Bread Baking tent in Screggan, Tullamore, Co.Offaly, on September 15 and 16.

The junior baking rounds will take place at 10:00a.m each day followed by the senior rounds at 1:00p.m.

The two overall winners will be crowned on September 17.

The winning brown bread baker for the adult competition will walk away with a cash prize of €5,000, along with a NEFF oven worth over €2,000.

The three finalists on September 17 will be presented with a €500 Euronics gift card, while all other finalists will be given a €250 Euronics voucher and a NEFF hamper.

The winning young baker will receive a €1,500 Euronics voucher, with an additional €1,500 Euronics voucher awarded to their school.

The three finalists on September 17 will win a €250 Euronics voucher, all other finalists will be given a €100 Euronics voucher and a NEFF hamper.

Anna May McHugh, NPA managing director said the National Brown Bread Baking Competition has been a much-loved part of the National Ploughing Championships.

"We’re delighted to see it continue to grow each year," she said.

Mary D’Arcy, ICA national president added that ICA members always look forward to taking part in the competition.

"We were especially delighted to see one of our own members take the top prize last year, which was a fantastic achievement and a real testament to the baking talent within the organisation," she said.

Darragh Lynch, Euronics Ireland chief executive, said they were delighted to return as sponsors of the event.

"The standard and volume of entries last year was incredibly high with over 130 loaves collected from every corner of Ireland, and we’re excited to see what bakers, including the next generation in our new junior competition, will bring to the table," he said.

Entries

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 – 11:00a.m.

The competition organisers said that bread will not be accepted in the stores outside of these times.

Bread has to be clearly labelled with name, address, age, email address and contact number. For junior competitors, the school must also be listed.

The following is a list of the brown bread drop off locations, dates and time:

Friday, July 17

TJ 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, Co. Dublin;
BSH Home of Innovation, Ballymount Industrial Estate, M50 Business Park, Dublin 12;
Heavins, A1&A2 Shannon Retail Park, Dublin Road, Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Friday July 24

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;
Harrys Electric Unit 2 Moynehall Retail Park, Ballinagh Road, Cavan;
Lally's Euronics, Centery Business Park Marshes Lower, Dundalk, Co. Louth;
Grahams of Monaghan, Coolshannagh Roundabout, Tullyhirm, Monaghan;
King & Moffatt Euronics, Sligo Road, Drishoge, Hawthorn Crescent, Co. Roscommon;
BSH Home of Innovation, Ballymount Industrial Estate, M50 Business Park, Dublin 12, D12 KP90

Friday, August 7

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;
Callaghan's Electrical, Unit 8, Letterkenny Retail Park, Neil T Blaney Rd, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal;
ElectroCity Carlow, Hanover Retail Park, Hanover Road, Carlow;
ElectroCity Kilkenny, Ordmonde Business Park, Dublin Road, Kilkenny;
ElectroCity Waterford, Kingsmeadown Retail Park, Inner Ring Road, Waterford;
BSH Home of Innovation, Ballymount Industrial Estate, M50 Business Park, Dublin 12, D12 KP90.

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 28.

All successful entrants will be contacted on August 11 and invited to attend The National Ploughing Championships Brown Bread Baking Tent.