Emma with her newborn son Paddy after winning the national brown bread title

Brown bread title for local mum Emma

Mother-of-three Emma Ferguson from Rathmolyon has won final of the National Brown Bread Baking competition at the National Ploughing Championships and will now see her bread in Aldi stores throughout the country.

Emma, who has three young boys Johnny (4), Charlie (2) and baby Paddy who is just two and half weeks old, impressed judges with her brown bread recipe to win the competition which is sponsored by Aldi in association with the National Ploughing Association and the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA).

Relaunched four years ago, the event was a huge success with entries from each one of the 26 counties through the ICA and through Aldi regional heats. The final was held today in the Aldi Marquee at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, where Emma rose to the challenge and emerged victorious, commended by the judges for her Brown Bread’s traditional appearance and perfect texture.

Her brown bread will now be stocked in all 133 Aldi Stores in Ireland for a minimum of six months and during this time Emma will receive a share of the profits, guaranteed to be at least €10,000.