Ursa Minor Bakehouse

08/06/2026

A space to share
In 2015 we were offered space the shopfront at for another pop up, this time we asked our friends (pre cafe!) if they would come and serve coffee and we had an amazing day. We decided if we wanted to bake bread and cake for our community we should try and get a coffee machine too so we thought we’d try a crowdfunding campaign. We needed £6k to buy coffee machine, grinder, wood to a make a counter, paint and crockery and we were backed by hundreds of incredibly generous folk from all round the world. We sourced seats and tables from the wonderful Marty and pretty much everything else was handmade or gifted. We were so excited when we opened the doors and actual customers came in! And so began the castle street era x

07/06/2026

07/06/2026

2014
We were learning how to bake. Dara’s first loaf, bread brownies, doughnuts and friands were our faves. We lived in a little flat in town where we practiced baking on our days off. We started doing the markets which we loved and they were a wonderful way to meet more of our amazing community here in Ballycastle. Then we were expecting our first child and we called the bump our little bear which is where the name Ursa Minor came from. Our family and friends helped us out so much especially our parents, for the signage. We kept doing markets and tiny Cillian visited his first stall when he was only one month old! Around Christmas that year our friends let us use their space for a pop up, a festive week of mulled wine and baking and serving our incredible customers. It got us thinking seriously about a more permanent set up.

06/06/2026

Hey! We’re Ciara and Dara. We met in the summer of 2010 when working at Carrick a rede ropebridge. We fell head over heels in love and decided to go off and see the world together. We inter-railed around Europe then sold everything we owned to travel to South America and finally New Zealand where we hung out for a while soaking up the amazing kiwi lifestyle. When we came home we tried a few bits and bobs (and got married) before realising that our little dream idea of a food business based around quality, excellent ingredients, honesty, community and rooted in our gorgeous & beloved north coast landscape was what we wanted to focus on.
This is the start of the story of Ursa Minor.

05/06/2026

Our beloved North Coast-over the next while we’ll bring you stories of our beginnings. The where, when, what, why and how of our style of baking and reason for being. BIG themes of community, integrity and love! Follow along and see if we can actually stick to the plan! Grá x
Larrybane 2014

03/06/2026

Armagh strawberry, elderflower and blackcurrant leaf choux 💚 early, early summer flavours. Using gorgeous Einkorn flour from Emma and Pat and our fave purple wheat from Turlough filled with crème légère, elderflower & almond sponge, strawberry puree, fresh strawbs and blackcurrant leaf sugar.

28/05/2026

100% wholegrain irish flour sponge with woodruff crème légère, Armagh strawberries, rhubarb and strawberry purée, toasted flaked almonds and blackcurrant leaf sugar 💚

27/05/2026

Bakers picnic for lunch today in the sun! Ciabatta, toasted organic nuts and seeds, Armagh strawberries and garden mint, free range boiled egg, salsa verde with beautiful herbs from delicious spring-chi made by mastermind gorgeous spelt pasta salad with Armagh asparagus, garlic scapes kidney beans and very very tasty Carraignamuc cheese from via our best buds potentially on tomorrow but we just remembered it’s sports day so immediately 3 bakers down in the morning! Yikes

23/05/2026

Suns out and town is packed for the bank holiday weekend! Check out the incredible music events over the next couple of days as part of the Lir sessions. Have a spud, Parmesan and salsa verde puff to fuel yourself! X

20/05/2026

After last weekends sell out pizza night, we are excited to be back with LIFER on Saturday 30th May at . It’ll most likely be another sell out so be sure to drop a message to get your pre orders in before all the slots are full!