Bread lies at the heart of the Irish baking tradition, and the range of breads, scones, tarts, cakes and biscuits still baked every day in Irish homes is truly enormous. Possibly the best known is brown bread - unique to every cook - the recipe often a closely guarded secret

These sixty tempting recipes are a selection of the best from the tradition and include soda breads, potato and griddle breads, gur cake, porter cake, barm brack and Christmas cake, buttermilk scones, pancakes, puddings and oaten biscuits. They will delight visitors and Irish people alike. Details of customs, folklore and Irish regional food traditions provide a fascinating background to the recipes and forty charming illustrations complete the mix.