Earlier in the week three members of the ICA won the opportunity to see who may have the best home baked brown bread in Ireland. No stranger to success Geraldine Maguire won the county federation final in Dunshaughlin and went forward as the Meath representative to the national competition at the headquarters of the ICA at An Grianan in Termonfeckin, County Louth.

From all the entrants Geraldine Maguire, Bernadette Ennis, Westmeath and Ann Loftus, Mayo, qualified for the final bake off along with  five others who qualified through Euronics nominations, who are the sponsor of the event. One of these ladies will be crowned champion at the forthcoming National Ploughing Championships in mid September in Tullamore.

Pictured left to right; Mary D’Arcy ICA President, Ber Ennis, Anna May McHugh, Geraldine Maguire with judges  Edward Hayden and Conor Grimes and above receiving her certificate from Mary D’Arcy.

Geraldine And Some Background

Geraldine grew up with her siblings, 4 girls and 4 boys to parents Mary and James Costello at Gilberstown, Longwood, growing up in the traditional ways of the time. Everyone did there duties in the home. They were self sufficient making the best use of the land to grow potatoes, seasonal vegetables, on a mixed small holding. She has reared her family of four boys, John Jnr., Brian, Stephen and Michael who lives now in Auckland, New Zealand, is married to John having built their family home at Moyfin, Longwood.

The homeplace at Gilberstown is no longer there but she talk of a wonderful childhood growing up in her community and treasures the kindred community of the locality that still exists today in the country parish. She attended Ardenew NS, about a two mile walk to a traditional two room mixed national school. When that closed Longwood NS then the technical school in longwood where she got great love of cooking from her domestic science teacher Breda Delaney. 

She is a member of the Athboy ICA Guild and on the day of the competition this week many of the members all arrived by coach to support her. She described the members ” like sisters, a very unified group” and was so delighted they came along on the day. There were other members from other guilds but so many of the Athboy Guild members turned up it was ”just wonderful”.

 

Geraldine Maguire holding her brown bread with members of the Athboy ICA Guild

When we met up with Geraldine she was still on a high from the success with the floral bouquet centre stage in the kitchen. She is a keen baker and enjoys the challenge. Having grown up in Longwood , she went to college in Galway and studied Hotel & Catering. At college she won a Guinness sponsored award for food service. She worked in a number of Galway hotels and also for Gerry Brady when he opened the Wellington Court Hotel in Trim. She also worked for the Business & Shopping Guides (The Red Book) when the children were growing up. She always enjoyed the challenges and now if you can call it retirement is ” as busy as ever”.

The Longwood Gospel Choir, Geraldine 2nd from right front row.

She sings with the Longwood Gospel Choir founded about 4 years ago and has about 30 active members. Geraldine is a  member of Trim Floral Art Club. Her interests also include sewing and producing Art pictures in fabric & embroidery. She has exhibited a selection  of her original works in Drogheda Credit Union in Market Street, Trim and has also featured at Bloom at the Phoenix Park in recent times.

One her works with the intricate embroidery.

Coming to her baking skills when you taste her homemade bread you will enjoy the taste and the flavour.  When asked for her mix she said that was her formula, but said she used good quality ingredients and said the flour came from Martry Mills. There’s no doubt the judges were impressed with her brown  bread and hopefully her success will long continue.