Cork master baker recreates Holly Bough cover during four-day project 

Cork woman Maureen Timpson was particularly struck by the iconic cover of this year’s Holly Bough, by artist Peter Buckley, who created a nostalgic scene of the busy area around Queen’s Old Castle in Cork.

The artist took his inspiration from memories of growing up in Cork in the ’70s and ’80s of the wonderful bustling streets of the city.

The scene stirred memories for master cake baker and master sugar crafter Maureen Tiffin, who lives in Montenotte.

So much so, that the talented artist and designer has replicated Peter’s creation into the form of a magnificent Christmas cake.

“It was the little red Beetle car that drew me,” says Maureen, whose sugar craft journey began with a Cork Examiner ‘Baking for Giving’ competition back in 1989 when she won the overall prize with her entry.

“I almost died when I won,” says Maureen, referring to her first winning piéce de résistance, and who is modest about her remarkable talent.

“My neighbour rushed over to tell me she saw the results in the paper of ‘Baking for Giving’. I could not believe it!”

Maureen, who is originally from Kildare, said her imagination was piqued when she purchased the 2024 Holly Bough and she was very taken with the cover.

She set out to create the beautiful festive scene by baking a Christmas cake matching the image.

How was Maureen first inspired to begin this mouth-watering project?

“My late father drove a red Beetle, and I have a particular interest in buildings,” she said.

Maureen, who always loved sugar, got to work on the four-day long sweetest project. Sifting, stirring, whisking, creaming, crafting, and pasting sloppy sugary ingredients into a work of art.

“I am not an artist,” points out Maureen.

“Although my sister teaches art, and my brother is an artist, I discovered that I was naturally good at sculpting, and I would model little creatures big and small.”

How did Maureen begin the process of making the most wonderful Christmas cake at the most wonderful time of the year?

“I etched the outline of Peter’s scene onto sugar paste and then filled in the details with food pens, and cocoa butter mixed with edible dusting powders. The children and the dog in the picture were done freehand.”

Maureen is a perfectionist.

“The children and the dog on the cake vary slightly from Peter’s picture,” she points out.

The Christmas cake that Maureen made of the Holly Bough scene is the actual size of the current edition.

She donated the cake to the Holly Bough for the annual fundraiser held by staff of The Echo and the Irish Examiner for Cork Simon.

Maureen loves what she does.

Like a lot of young mothers, she honed her skills when her three sons were small.

“When my husband Dominic worked overseas with the Irish Army, I couldn’t get enough of creating cakes using sugar craft,” she says.

Maureen replaced one love for another.

“I replaced with sugar. I don’t know how he puts up with me,” says Maureen laughing.

“The house is full of sugar-related items!”

Dominic and their three sons had their cake and ate it.

“I made my own kids’ birthday cakes since they were small,” says Maureen.

“I just loved the whole process. When I joined a sugar craft club in Cork and won other baking competitions, including in the UK, I worked on my skills.

“I couldn’t get enough of baking and sugar crafting.”

Salivating and marvelling at Maureen’s Christmas cake, the exact replica of Peter Buckley’s picture on the cover of Holly Bough 2024, I ask: wouldn’t it be shame to cut it?

“Oh, we have to cut it!” says Maureen.

“Cake is for sharing and enjoying. I’ve always enjoyed the whole process of making cakes using sugar craft.”

Maureen resists the temptation of sampling her wonderful edible creations.

“I never eat it,” she says.

“If I did, I wouldn’t come in the door!”