Your Source on Traditional Irish Soda Bread

That drive for accuracy was forged over 12 years as a Civil War reenactor—delving deep into uniforms, weapons, tactics, and historic cooking—which eventually led to roles as a Background Artist in films like Gettysburg (1992) and Avenging Angel (2006). But my connection to culinary history is also deeply personal. My roots trace back to Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, where soda bread was a daily part of life.

My mother began baking her traditional Irish soda bread in 1934, learning from my Grandmother and Great Grandmother (who was born in 1845, the start of the Great Famine) using the old-school "pinch of salt and pinch of baking soda" method and baking using a pot-oven in an open hearth.

Coming from an engineering background, I translated her intuition into precise measurements for easy repetition, aligning with traditional cookery standards from mid-20th-century Irish schools.

Around 30 years ago, after entering Irish Dance competitions with my son, I started noticing local soda bread contests filled with variations that strayed far from the genuine article. That realization sparked the creation of The Society for the Preservation of Irish Soda Bread. Our mission, and yours if you choose to accept it, is to honor our ancestors by preserving the authenticity of this 19th century four-ingredient recipe (flour, salt, baking soda, and buttermilk) and educating the public about its story—making sure people know the difference between traditional soda bread and other Irish breads or cakes. Enjoy both, but know the history of what you are eating. :-)

My research has continuously expanded over the decades. As a Senior Member of Meitheal Dúchas, since about 2021, I have edited or transcribed over 1,000 pages of the Irish Folklore database gathered around 1938, preserving direct accounts of Irish life from generations born in the 1860s and 1870s. I’ve also researched the Famine Years (An Gorta Mór) and examined 1900s American newspapers to trace how non-traditional additions entered modern American Soda Bread recipes—a captivating journey currently shaping up into a new book.

Every year brings new discoveries, and I’m always eager to share what I learn. I invite you to join our growing community of over four thousand Irish Soda Bread bakers on Facebook to share photos, techniques, and a mutual passion for authentic baking.
Slán,

Ed O’Dwyer

Ed, standing in front of his Grandparents home in Nenagh Co. Tipperary where his Mom learned to bake Soda Bread from her Mom and Grandmother who all lived together on Pound St, Nenagh.

Welcome to a journey through time, tradition, and taste! My lifelong fascination with history and cooking has always been guided by a simple belief: if you want to understand the past, you have to get the details right.