Different Types of Bread

There are a lot of different types of bread – boxty, potato cake, slap jack, oaten bread and soda bread. A scraper is used to make boxty. It is a piece of tin with a board for the scrapings and flour is mixed in along with bread soda. Potato cake is made by boiling the potatoes.

Slap jack is made in a basin or a mug and is made like a soda cake. Meal and sugar is put in a basin and water added and it is cut into 4 pieces and more meal rubbed on it. Then it is put on an iron grid or a pan. Sometimes a small cake is left near a kettle or support.

Soda bread is made with flour and bread soda and buttermilk mixed together. A cross is out on the top and a lit is put on it. The fire is placed on the top and underneath to cook it.

Ballyroe, Co. Galway

Collector: Martin Smyth

Informant: Unknown

Duchas, ‘The Schools’ Collection’, www.duchas.ie