Young Bakers Take Centre Stage as New Junior Brown Bread Baking Competition Launches for 2026
Bakers aged 12–18 can compete for a €1,500 Euronics voucher — plus €1,500 for their school — at the National Ploughing Championships.
Ireland's next generation of bakers now has a stage of their own. A brand-new Junior Brown Bread Baking Competition has been added to this year's National Brown Bread Baking Competition, sponsored by Euronics Ireland in association with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA).
The new junior category, open to young bakers aged 12 to 18, was announced this week at the official competition launch at Euronics ElectroCity in County Kilkenny. It gives young people from across Ireland the chance to showcase their brown bread baking skills on one of the country's biggest stages — the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
The winning junior baker will receive a €1,500 Euronics voucher, with an additional €1,500 Euronics voucher awarded to their school — making this a competition that benefits not just the individual baker but their whole school community. The three finalists on the final day will each win a €250 Euronics voucher, and all other junior finalists will receive a €100 Euronics voucher and a NEFF hamper.
Passing the Tradition to the Next Generation
The junior competition has been introduced to encourage young people to get involved in one of Ireland's most treasured food traditions and to help keep the country's proud brown bread baking legacy alive.
"I am thrilled that this year we will once again have a junior baking category, encouraging young people to get involved and help ensure that Ireland's proud brown bread baking tradition is carried on by the next generation."
— Anna May McHugh, NPA Managing Director
"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."
— Darragh Lynch, CEO of Euronics Ireland
How the Junior Competition Works
Eight junior finalists will be selected from entries dropped off at Euronics stores around Ireland during July and August. The finalists will then be invited to bake their brown breads live in the Brown Bread Baking Tent at the National Ploughing Championships on September 15th and 16th, with the junior rounds starting at 10am each day. The winning junior baker will be crowned on September 17th.
How to Enter
Young bakers aged 12–18 bake their brown bread at home and drop it off at one of the participating Euronics stores below between 9.00am and 11.00am on the specified dates. One entry per person. Each loaf must be clearly labelled with the entrant's name, address, age, email address, contact number, and school name. No entries will be accepted outside of the specified times and locations.
Friday 17th July — 9.00am to 11.00am
- J O'Mahonys, Downings North, Prosperous, Co. Kildare
- Grange, Unit 48G, Baldoyle Industrial Estate, Baldoyle, Co. Dublin OR Mastercare, 164 Howth Road, Killester, Dublin 3
- Heavins, Shannon Retail Park, Dublin Road, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
- BSH Home of Innovation, M50 Business Park, Ballymount, Dublin 12
Friday 24th July — 9.00am to 11.00am
- Bandon Co-Op, Kilbrogan, Bandon, Co. Cork
- Jack Fitzgerald, Howleys Quay, Limerick
- Joyce's Hardware & Home, Galway Road, Headford, Co. Galway
- Harry's Electric, Moynehall Retail Park, Cavan
- Lally's Euronics, Centery Business Park, Dundalk, Co. Louth
- Grahams of Monaghan, Coolshannagh, Monaghan
- King & Moffatt Euronics, Sligo Road, Co. Roscommon
- BSH Home of Innovation, M50 Business Park, Ballymount, Dublin 12
Friday 7th August — 9.00am to 11.00am
- Redmond Electric, WFC Retail Park, Gorey, Co. Wexford
- Keans, Mount Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo OR Brodericks, Castlebar Road, Westport, Co. Mayo
- Callaghan's Electrical, Letterkenny Retail Park, Co. Donegal
- ElectroCity Carlow, Hanover Retail Park, Carlow
- ElectroCity Kilkenny, Ormonde Business Park, Kilkenny
- ElectroCity Waterford, Kingsmeadow Retail Park, Waterford
- BSH Home of Innovation, M50 Business Park, Ballymount, Dublin 12
All successful entrants will be contacted on August 11th and invited to attend the National Ploughing Championships Brown Bread Baking Tent.
Whether you're a Transition Year student who's been perfecting your family recipe, or a teenager who's just getting into baking, this is your chance to compete on a national stage — and bring home a fantastic prize for yourself and your school.
For full details on how to enter, terms, conditions, and competition rules, visit our Brown Bread Baking Competition 2026 page.
