Sweet baking success for Clodagh’s ‘honesty box’ cake shed business

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Edenderry native Clodagh Farrell has had a taste of success with her cake shed, which she operates on an honesty-based payment policy.

The 20-year-old runs her cake business on a part-time basis, alongside her studies in Agricultural Science at UCD.

"I've been baking since I was tiny," Clodagh said, noting her mother and her grandmother as her biggest baking inspirations.

"I was always helping out in the kitchen growing up, and I started making novelty cakes in primary school."

Clodagh grew up on a farm in Edenderry, and her first big foray into baking was in November 2022, when she was asked to bake a last-minute wedding cake.

"I was in fifth year at the time, and my friends starting telling me I should set up a business, and I could really make money at it."

She added: "I never really thought about setting up a business until then."

The 20-year-old has been running her cake business for the last three years via her Instagram page @clodagh_bakes_

Her latest venture is a new cake shed at the front of her families farm, where she is able to sell fresh baked goods to work around her schedule.

Clodagh operates her business on an honesty based system, meaning she trusts people to pay the right amount for the goods that they take.

"I was inspired by those egg boxes you see around the country," she said. "So far, people have been more than honest, so I'd say it's been going really well."

When asked about her plans to develop her business into the future, Clodagh said she'd love to start her own drive-through bakery.

"I'm still in college at the moment, so it would be a good few years before that happens!" she added.