O Donnells Bakery

01/05/2026

Welcoming Bealtaine at O’Donnell’s Bakery with our May boughs 🌿✨
Wishing everyone a happy May Day and a bright summer ahead🌼

26/04/2025

With its vibrant golden blossoms furze, also known as gorse, is a staple used in most May Bushes. This hardy, spiky shrub has been a familiar sight across Ireland for centuries and once played a vital role in daily life.

Historically, furze was more than just a picturesque addition to the landscape—it was a lifeline for rural communities. Farmers relied on it as fodder for livestock, particularly in winter when other food sources were scarce. The young shoots were fed to cattle and horses, often crushed to soften their thorny texture.

Beyond its agricultural use, furze was a fuel source. Its dry, woody branches burned fiercely, making it an excellent material for heating homes and baking bread in traditional clay ovens. In an era before widespread coal and turf use, furze fires kept many Irish households warm.

It also had medicinal and symbolic significance. Some believed that furze possessed protective qualities, warding off evil spirits when planted near homes. Its bright yellow flowers were associated with luck and prosperity, and in some regions, they were used in herbal remedies for ailments like rheumatism.

Today, furze remains a beloved part of Ireland’s natural heritage. While modern farming and heating methods have replaced many of its traditional uses, its golden blooms still brighten the landscape, filling the air with their distinctive coconut-like scent.

Next time you pass a furze bush, take a moment to appreciate its rich history — a humble plant that once served generations of Irish families 🌼

17/03/2024

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all at O’Donnell’s Bakery!

01/02/2024

For those of you who missed the Brigid's cross-making workshop today or if you simply can't get enough of it, feel free to drop into the Killorglin library on Thursday 😊💚🔥

23/01/2024

Biddy's Day 2024 this February Bank Holiday weekend in Killorglin! Join the celebrations 🤩

24/12/2023

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from O’Donnell’s Bakery! Thank you for your continued support this year ❤️

19/12/2023

29/09/2023

Thrilled to have won silver at Blas Na HEireann for our Lucy’s Granola 🎉

Amazing atmosphere today in Di**le, delighted to chat with Chef Brian McDermott in the awards marquee.

**le

28/09/2023

We are really excited to be attending Blas Na HEireann this weekend. A throwback to when our Molly’s Muesli won a silver Blas na hÉireann award in 2014 🎉

Best of luck to all attending! Looking forward to a weekend of tasting amazing food and meeting great people.

22/09/2023

We stopped in the Green Olive Market and Café in Squamish for lunch on our recent trip to Canada and spotted Guinness Sticky Onion Marmalade. Delighted to see a Blas Na HEireann award so far from home!

**le