Roscommon woman rises to the top of bread making challenge
Rose with her son Garry at the finals of the National Brown Bread Baking Competition.
Roscommon native Rose Egan was overjoyed and overwhelmed to win the National Brown Bread Baking Competition at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, County Laois.
Supported by Euronics and in association with the National Ploughing Association and the Irish Countrywomen's Association, the annual competition is one of the big attractions of the Ploughing, with a first prize of €5,000 and a NEFF oven.
Rose, who is originally from Newtown, Bealnamulla, has been living in Offaly for 40 years but remains a proud Rossie and supporter of Clann Na nGael GAA Club.
“I still have the Rossie soul. I am a Rossie no matter where I go,” she told the Herald.
She also worked as a SNA at St Joseph’s NS in Summerhill, Drum, and has been inundated with messages of support and congratulations. “I can’t get over the number of messages I have received, I am thrilled.” She entered the competition but did not expect to win. “On the Tuesday of last week, I had my semi-final. And I was so thrilled to get into the final on the Thursday,” she said. “I was so nervous, there were thousands of people in the audience. They called us back up on stage to announce the winner, they hardly had my name out of their mouth, and I nearly collapsed. I couldn’t believe it. I am still pinching myself.”
A special needs assistant in St Francis Boys’ NS, Clara, Rose said that the school gave her a huge welcome back on Friday.
“I was crying again,” she said with a laugh.
Rose explained that she has always baked, and was a big supporter of local agricultural shows, including Strokestown, Athlone, and Roscommon, entering their baking competitions.
“I loved the shows, that’s where it really started. Our mother used to encourage us to enter,” said Rose.
She thanked her son Garry, who helped her during the competition, “he was really my rock on the day”.
“I am just trying to soak it all in and where it leads to that remains to be seen,” she said. “I still can’t get it into my head. I am over the moon.”
