Cork grandmother crowned top baker shares the secret to her success

It is no wonder that Mary Buckley is Queen of Scones.

She had a recipe for success from another queen, her mother, Margaret Kelleher.

Mary, from Rathcoole, has won the inaugural Gala Retail and Virgin Media Television Best Baker competition.

“I couldn’t believe it,” says

She couldn’t believe something else.

“I never knew when I was persuaded to enter the competition that there was money involved,” adds Mary, who took home the winner’s trophy and a cheque for €3,000.

The second eldest of seven children, Mary was always with her mother.

“Mum was like my best friend. She was a very hard worker out on the farm when there was no water or no electricity. I baked at her elbow since I was able to walk.”

What did Mary’s mother bake?

“She made brown bread, curranty cake, apple cake, and of course, scones. She had no cutter for the scones. They were cut with a knife in the shape of triangles. There was a good bite in them.”

Margaret Kelleher was an all-rounder.

“She made plum orange jelly thickened with cornflour. She grew rhubarb,” says Mary.

“Neighbours would supply her with apples for her apple cakes and apple tarts. In the Millstreet/Banteer area there was always a great ‘meitheal’ among the community.”

Mary fell in love with a farmer named John. They had seven children - five girls and two boys.

“The last one has just finished college,” says Mary, “so they are all off the cheque book!”

They all benefited from their mother’s master baking.

“The whole time they were growing up, I made brown bread and scones,” says Mary.

“I made cakes around the clock, madeira cakes, orange chocolate cakes for birthdays, when I would decorate the cakes with chocolate buttons and put two ‘hands’ of the clock on the cake for the number birthday we were celebrating. I made 21st cakes and I made wedding cakes, all by hand.”

Mary has the gentle touch for perfecting scones.

“I have a light hand,” she says.

“None of the girls have hands as light as mine. My hands are a way lighter. I can’t explain it.”

Is the proof of the pudding in a light touch?

“It is all in the hands,” agrees Mary. And often times, it is the less handling of the mixture that is required.”

Her husband John, who passed away in recent years, bought Mary a Kenwood chef mixer at Christmas in 1977.

“I wondered what I’d like for Christmas, and that was it,” says Mary.

“It worked wonders. Twelve years ago, when my daughter Elizabeth got married, it stopped working.”

Maybe the machine was overworked?

Mary laughs.

“That may be the case, but you may be sure I hurried out to Hennessys and bought another one!”

Mary, 71, never turns down an opportunity.

“I was sitting down one morning looking at the television when the Gala baking competition was announced. My granddaughter said I should enter.”

Why not?

“I thought I’d enter for the cráic. And I have free travel.”

The stars were aligned for Mary to display her master baking skills and to be crowned ‘Queen of Scones’.

“I have another granddaughter who teaches in Dublin so I could stay with her and have free B&B.

“I was looking forward to meeting Catherine Leydon (a home baking expert known as The Odlums Lady) whose baking skills I have always admired.”

Mary and her companion, Catriona, who took a day off school to accompany her grandmother, headed off from Mallow to Heuston Station.

Mary was laden down.

“I had to bring up my own ingredients to Airfield Industrial Estate, where the baking competition was taking place. The three finalists were shown into a big kitchen with hobs for each of us and two sinks between us.”

Mary rolled up her sleeves and did what she does best.

“I told the weather man in TV3 (Virgin Media) that I was making plain scones, fruit scones and brown scones if I had time. We had two hours before the clock went off when we had to finish up. People were outside the glass looking in at us.”

Mary, engrossed in her task, was unaware the judges were present to taste and judge the ladies’ baking produce.

“Five, four, three, two, one, was counted down, and we had to drop what we were doing. We were then sent out and I met my granddaughter and daughter for a cup of tea before the three of us contestants were called in again.”

There was a drum roll. It was time.

“We have a winner,” the MC said.

“He opened the envelope, and it read ‘Mary Buckley’. I caught on to the table; I nearly fell down.”

Back at the ranch, the clan was watching the competition live on television.

“They were glued to the TV,” says Mary.

“She’s not well,” one of the family said.

Another got the picture.

“She’s after winning the whole damn thing!”

Mary, who threw the kitchen sink at the competition, a natural since baking at her mother’s elbow, was crowned Mary Queen of Scones.

She was like the cat who got the cream.

“I never knew there was money involved,” she said.

“I couldn’t believe it. I am on a high since.”

What will she do with her winnings, €3,000?

“John and I were never on holidays. Since he left this world, I have only been to Lourdes, to Medjugorje, and to Rome for a wedding. So, I might take a holiday.”

Mary is known far and wide.

“There were numerous articles in the papers about me winning the prize. I get post with All-Ireland Baking Champion, Rathcoole, Co. Cork, addressed to me. Everyone seems to know me now!”

Mary, Queen of Scones, is also Mary, Queen of Hearts.

“After John passed away in December, 2015, I began holding coffee mornings with home-baking for the Mercy Hospital where he was cared for,” says Mary.

She has continued to support the hospital that supported her husband when he was sick.

“I didn’t hold any coffee mornings during Covid, but since I started, €40,000 has been raised for the Mercy Hospital.”

Mary may go into business.

“There has been so much interest and excitement about my win, I am waiting for someone to come along and say, ‘make scones for my shop!’”

We would all like to sample this lady’s prize-winning scones.

“If you are ever down this way, be sure and call for a cuppa and a scone,” says Mary.

She doesn’t have to tell me twice!