Star Baker! Kilkenny lady takes slice of Cherry Cake honours at Iverk Show
The historic 200th Iverk Show delivered all the spectacle, tradition, and friendly rivalry that has made it Ireland’s oldest agricultural showpiece. Few events drew quite as much anticipation as the fiercely contested Cherry Cake Competition, which attracts entries from across Ireland.
In a milestone year celebrating two centuries of community excellence, the prestigious title has returned right to the village's roots.
The day began on an uplifting note with an address from Fr. Paschal Moore, who described the landmark show as a “positive light amidst everything else going on in the world today,” reminding the crowds that the spirit of taking part in competitions counts for so much.
The spirit was tested in the baking tent, where Hillcrest native Jacqueline Cuddihy, who travelled from Edinburgh, was declared the winner.
Her meticulous preparation, which included taking over her mother Mary Cuddihy’s kitchen in Piltown to run continuous practice bakes to master the precise texture and crucial cherry suspension, clearly paid off.!
She won a €200 prize cheque and the coveted trophy, which she holds for the coming year, and her name will now be etched onto the historic cup alongside the greats of Irish home baking. The win was a special moment, with Ms Cuddihy noting the warm and gracious atmosphere from fellow competitors once the result was announced. Bringing the cup home to Piltown in such a landmark year was, for her, the icing on the cake.