Margarets brown bread bakeoff

WHILE most people will be pulling on their walking boots at the National Ploughing Championships, one Mayo woman will be up to her elbows in flour. The ovens are being heated, recipes have been tweaked, and eight finalists are ready for the great Irish bake-off at the national brown bread baking competition sponsored by Aldi in association with the ICA and NPA.

The finals get underway tomorrow (Tuesday) and will run into Wednesday in the Aldi tent at the ploughing championships. Two people will be picked from each day and they will go head-to-head on Thursday.

Margaret Jennings from Westport is among those taking part having fought off some stiff competition in An Grianan, Co. Louth, last month. She said of her win through to the final eight: “My feet haven’t hit the ground at all yet. I’m still in shock.”

Margaret’s partner, Sean, is travelling down to Laois for the finals. It’s a real family affair as her daughter, her husband and their two kids will also be there to offer support. “I am over the moon excited about it,” said an enthusiastic Margaret ahead of the finals.

If you’re down at the ploughing, do pop by and lend Margaret your support. Who knows, you might even get to sample some of her fabulous brown bread!