Things are heating up at the National Brown Bread Baking Competition, with our eight impressive bakers now whittled down to four fantastic finalists.
This year's finalists span four counties, with each baker bringing a blend of personal flair and deep-rooted Irish baking heritage, reflecting the diversity and richness of brown bread recipes passed down through generations.
While Tuesday's finalists resulted in Áine Cotter from Cork and Pauline Browne from Dublin getting through to the finals, Wednesday's results saw two women from the Irish Countrywomen's Association - Kathy Bolger from Wexford and Maureen Igoe from Mayo - get through the next stage.
Meet the finalists
Áine Cotter
Áine Cotter is a Maths teacher at Kinsale Community School, a mother to four young children - Teresa (9), Nora (7), Daniel (3) and Martha (10 months) - and a team member of Gaelic 4 Mothers.
The 39-year-old began baking in the last decade, when she realised that her children would happily eat their granny's baked goods. She started with making brown bread and soon fell into baking scones, tea brack, sponge cakes, and more.
Living on her partner's family's farm in Dunmanway, Áine says she has potted hundreds of jars of honey thanks to their hobby of bee-keeping.
She says her secret ingredient is macroom flour and hopes to have a big crowd of supporters for the finals, including her mam, dad, five sisters, three nieces, one nephew, her husband, and three of the children (Martha is a little too young for the full day out).
Pauline Browne
Pauline Browne from Co. Dublin works in the Marketing Department of Technology University, and has recently started her own small business called West Cork Silver, where she designs hand-made silver jewellery.
She says she has baked since at least the age of five, with her earliest memories being in the kitchen, "helping" her grandmother to bake.
While her grandmother made brown bread every single day for the family, her mother would make queen cakes and butterfly buns - especially on rainy Saturdays
Since having her own child, Pauline has found herself spending more time baking, and has found "extra treacle and a prayer" to be her secret ingredients.
Kathy Bolger
Hailing from Wexford, Kathy Bolger says she has been baking since she was a child, having spent her youth watching her mother and sister bake up a storm in the kitchen.
As a member of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, Kathy entered the Brown Bread Baking Competition through the ICA Bree Guild, but says she never expected to get through - especially to the finals.
As well as baking a beautiful bread (and a "savage chicken curry"), Kathy is a Designated Liaison Person with Craobh Loch Garman in Wexford.
She plans to attend the final with her husband, Paul, by her side.
Maureen Igoe
Maureen Igoe is a home-maker based in Bonniconlon, Co. Mayo. She has been baking since her teenage years, thanks to the influence of her mother, who had "a household" to bake for.
She insists that she cannot reveal her secret ingredient, but says that years of trying various methods and ingredients have gone into her recipe.
A member of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, Maureen says she was one of three ladies to qualify from An Grianan. She will be joined at the final by some of her fellow guild members, as well as a "bus load" of neighbours, plus her wonderful children, and some of her "many grandchildren".
She describes herself as a good quizzer, a huge sports fan, and would love tickets to the Six Nations if there are any going.
The Grand Final
Taking place at the National Ploughing Championship in Screggan, the final starts at 12pm on Thursday, 18 September, with the winner announced at 3pm. The event will happen live at Block 2, Row 22, Stand 424.
The competition will see the winner take home €5,000 in cash and a NEFF Slide & Hide Oven, the very model made famous by The Great British Bake Off, which is valued at over €2,000.
The three runners-up will each receive a €500 Euronics gift card, while all remaining finalists will be awarded a €250 Euronics gift card and a NEFF hamper.
