Talented Carlow woman rises to the occasion at national ICA brown bread bake-off

There was plenty of Carlow pride on show at one of Ireland's most fiercely fought baking contests last weekend.

Carlow woman Mary Timmins represented the county at the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA) Final of the National Brown Bread Baking Competition, held at An Grianán Adult Education College, Co Louth on Sunday, July 21.

While only three bakers could progress to the next stage at the National Ploughing Championships, Carlow's entrant proved more than worthy of her place in the national spotlight, earning praise from her local ICA guild in Ballyconnell.

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“Congratulations to Mary Timmins who represented Carlow in the Regional Finals Brown Bread Competition at Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA) An Grianán Adult Education College," Ballyconnel ICA said in a post on Facebook.

The ICA later confirmed that Kathy Bolger (Wexford), Maureen Igoe (Mayo), and Helen Walker (Dublin) were the three finalists selected to go forward to Screggan, where they'll compete in front of huge crowds in Tullamore this September.

In a social media post, the ICA praised all the finalists and thanked judges Edward Hayden and Eileen Brennan, along with Anna May McHugh and staff at An Grianán, for making the day so special.

The winner will take home €5,000 in prize money and a top-of-the-range NEFF oven, courtesy of Euronics Ireland.

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