What makes for a perfect loaf of brown bread can be deeply personal and highly controversial, depending on who you ask.
However, at the National Ploughing Championships, taking place 17-19 September, eight bakers will try to rise to the top, if you will, at the National Brown Bread Baking Competition, supported by Euronics in association with the NPA and ICA.
An annual competition, and one that draws a heaving crowd year after year, the baking contest is a highlight of the Ploughing, and receives many applicants every year.
On Tuesday and Wednesday in the National Brown Bread Baking Competition tent (row 10, tent 148 beside the ICA tent) four bakers will begin their bake-offs from 12pm where MC Alison Curtis will be there to calm the nerves as they battle to make it to the finals on Thursday.
The winners will be announced each day at 2pm, with the overall winner announced this Thursday.
And it's not just glory they'll be walking away with. This year's competition promises a fantastic first prize of €5,000 cash prize and a NEFF Slide & Hide oven, along with three finalists all walking away with a €500 Euronics gift card.
First up in yesterday's semi final were Maureen McLaughlin from Donegal, Rose Egan from Offaly, Martin Malone from Dublin 15 and Anne Heslin from Leitrim. After a true showdown, Rose and Martin walked away as the winners of that heat, and will go on to the final on Thursday.
Today's semi final saw Helen Cunningham from Kilkenny, Mary Rose Power from Meath, Georgie Smyth from Dublin 16 and Noreen Collins from Cork take on the challenge of baking the best brown bread.
In the end, Mary Rose Power from Meath and Noreen Collins from Cork emerged as the last two finalists, and will face off against Rose and Martin in tomorrow's final.
Visit RTÉ Lifestyle tomorrow to find out who the winners of the Brown Bread Baking Competition 2024 are!
