Brown bread contest returning to Ploughing with new junior category added

The search for Ireland’s best brown bread is back for 2026, with the launch of this year’s National Brown Bread Baking Competition, sponsored by Euronics Ireland in association with the National Ploughing Association and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association.

The finals of the popular competition are to be held in September at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore.

This year's event will see the addition of a new junior brown bread baking competition, giving young brown bread bakers, aged 12 to 18, the chance to showcase their skills alongside Ireland’s best home bakers.

National Ploughing Association Managing Director Anna May McHugh, said: "The National Brown Bread Baking Competition has been a much-loved part of the National Ploughing Championships for generations, and we’re delighted to see it continue to grow each year.

"I am thrilled that this year we will once again have a junior baking category, encouraging young people to get involved and helping to ensure that Ireland’s proud brown bread baking tradition is carried on by the next generation."

Sixteen finalists (8 junior and 8 senior) will take to the stage to bake their brown breads in the National Ploughing Championships Brown Bread Baking tent in Screggan, on September 15 and 16, with the two winners crowned on September 17.

The junior baking rounds will take place at 10am each day followed by the senior rounds at 1pm.

The junior category aims to encourage the next generation of bakers to get involved in one of Ireland’s most treasured food traditions, keeping the legacy and Ireland’s brown bread baking tradition alive.

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 and all other finalists will be given a €100 Euronics voucher and a NEFF hamper.

The winning brown bread baker in the adult competition will walk away with a cash prize of €5,000 PLUS a NEFF Slide&Hide oven worth over €2,000, with three finalists on September 17 winning a €500 Euronics gift card and all other finalists will be given a €250 Euronics voucher and a NEFF hamper.

Darragh Lynch, CEO of Euronics Ireland, said at the launch: "We are delighted to once again partner with the National Ploughing Association and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association for this fantastic competition.

"Brown bread is baked in kitchens right across Ireland every day, and we look forward to discovering some of the country’s best recipes. 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."

All entrants (one entry per person) are being asked to drop their freshly baked bread to one of a number of stores, which are part of the Euronics group, on the prescribed dates between 9am and 11am.

Bread will not be accepted outside of these times. For the senior competition, five bakers will be invited to join the three finalists from the ICA who will be chosen at the national event in An Grianán on Tuesday, July 28.

How to enter:

Entrants bake bread at home and drop for tasting and judging on the dates and locations outlined below. Please note, bread has to be clearly labelled with name, address, age, email address and contact number. For junior competitors, the school must also be listed.

No entries will be taken outside the times and locations specified below. Winning entrants will be contacted in due course.

Leinster brown bread drop off locations, dates and times include the Heavins store at A1&A2 Shannon Retail Park, Dublin Road, Athlone, on Friday, July 17 between 9am anhd 11am.

Visit the National Ploughing Association's website at www.npa.ie for the full list of stores at which entries are being accepted.

Maureen Igoe, last year’s winner, from Bonniconlon in Mayo, said of her experience: "I've been baking for over 50 years but I honestly never expected to win, especially with such an amazing standard of competitors.

"It was a wonderful experience overall and I’d encourage anyone who enjoys baking to enter this year’s competition - you’ve got nothing to lose!"