On Saturday, more than 120 people competed for a free trip to Ireland at the 35th annual event, a tradition for generations of local Irish families. A bagpiper led judges into the bar. “It really gets everyone excited for St. Patrick’s Day,” one judge says.By Erica Thompson
Mar 8, 2025, 7:54pm CDT
Lorraine O’Malley cheers as she is announced as the winner of a trip for two to Ireland during the annual Irish Soda Bread Contest at Reilly’s Daughter pub in Oak Lawn on Saturday. Her daughters are hoping to be her plus one, and so is her sister.
Being queen of Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day parade comes with several duties leading up to the big day on March 15.
But the toughest, according to this year’s honoree, Cara Walsh, was a task she undertook Saturday at
Reilly’s Daughter pub: soda bread contest judge.
Walsh and 19 other judges sampled the traditional Irish dish, made with flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk. A whopping 121 loaves were entered, most of which contained raisins — largely an American addition, according to several bakers. The entries were also adorned with vibrant green decor, including ribbons, figurines, beads and clover-shaped lights.
