Limerick baker John plans to stick with tradition at The Ploughing

BAKER John Quinlivan says he is looking forward to representing Limerick at the prestigious finals of the National Brown Bread Baking Competition next week.

John, who is from Garryowen in the city will face seven other finalists in the competition, which is one of the highlights of the National Ploughing Championships which will take place at Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

The story behind John’s acclaimed brown bread is far from typical.

It began with his wife, who used a traditional brown bread recipe – dating back around 30 years.

When she decided to stop baking the bread a few years ago, John decided to step up and he took it upon himself to mix the dough in his spare time.

He says he was never a big baker growing up, and even now he will only occasionally deviate from his claim to fame by baking buns rather than brown bread.

The recipe he uses remains traditional and there are no fancy techniques or secret ingredients.

John told the Limerick Leader he trusts the “good old fashioned way” will lead to success in Tullamore.

John says he is often asked for a sample of his brown bread by friends and family. He added that when he visits the in-laws, their first question is “Did you bring any bread?”

This year is the first time John has entered the National Brown Bread Baking Competition, and he says it was his wife who put him forward for it.

He revealed he “couldn’t believe it” when he learned he had made it through to the finals.

Win or lose, he says the experience has been “something different.”

Another Limerick native, Rachel Murphy, 13, who lives in Monaleen, will be competing in the Junior National Brown Bread Baking Competition. She’s in with the chance of winning two €1,500 Euronics vouchers – one for herself and one for her school.

“I love baking and I'm really excited to be baking my brown bread at the National Ploughing Championships,” she said.