Meet the former Kildare TD and senator who's turned to baking bread

You might assume that the arrival of Anthony Lawlor at the Naas Country Market (NCM) is merely the latest local manifestation of the drift away from consuming produce made in factories.

But, you’d be wrong. Because there is, in fact, a linear explanation.

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The former Kildare TD and county councillor sells his very own brown bread at the market, which opens every Friday (9.30am-12.15pm) at the Moat Theatre in Naas.

As it happens his family is steeped in the food business.

Anthony is better known as a politician who was elected to the Dáil between 2011-2016. Before that he was a two term member of Kildare County Council and, more recently, a senator on Seanad Éireann’s agricultural panel.

His late mother Patsy was a businesswoman, politician (senator and councillor) and ICA president, who was followed by her son into politics.

Anthony’s brother Phil is a former rugby international and another, Kevin, is the proprietor of the Old House pub in Kill.

His extended family was well known back in the day for catering at large events like race meetings all over Ireland, including Naas and Punchestown, and owned Lawlor’s Hotel in Naas.

Between 1984-1984 the Agricultural Science graduate (UCD) spent two years with Voluntary Services Overseas in Vanuatu, a nation of about 80 islands in the South Pacific Ocean, encouraging the cultivation of crops like beans to add protein to the carbohydrate-rich diet of the population.

“Some 35 years ago I’d watch my mother baking and cooking and this is where the interest came from. I used to watch Lawlor’s preparing food like potato salad and Russian salad for the race meetings or events at the RDS or at bloodstock sales. This was how it originated for me, the interest has been there for a long time.”

He has his own bread recipe - wheat flour, plain flour, porridge, eggs, bread soda, buttermilk, olive oil and brown sugar.

The NCM, he points out, is the longest running in Ireland and has been held on a weekly basis in numerous Naas locations.

“It’s been running for 74 years selling vegetables, jams, eggs, cakes, breads, quiches and more. It has a loyal clientele and the quality is excellent,“ he says.

The NCM has one producer for each food type, ensuring consistency of quality and the  space to encourage new items for sale rather than duplicating what’s already available.

“It must be the longest serving food produce vendor on Naas’ main street.”

He adds: “Most of what we sell is home grown or made at home in our own kitchens without industrial-scale equipment. The NCM is a great outlet for people with a passion for food and it is very positive toward new products, but you must show you have a quality product because we get and encourage feedback from customers.”