Aisling Hanley of Headford based Aisling's Artisan Bakery, is the baking Superwoman of Galway, creating scrumptious breads, scones and tarts while raising a growing family and building a business from the kitchen up.
Aisling's Artisan Bakery began in 2008 when the then mother of three, Aisling, turned to a lifelong love of baking to help support her family, since then the family as well as the bakery has grown. Growing from a kitchen table operation baking items for local markets has grown with Aisling's Artisan Bakery in a dedicated premises and her now being a mother to six children, something she says is her proudest achievement.
Created with family at its core, Aisling's Artisan Bakery relies not only on Aisling to keep things running smoothly, with her husband pitching in to help with accounts and deliveries and with her older girls babysitting their siblings, their combined effort helping to build the thriving business.
"I could never have envisioned that when I started that first farmers market that I would still be here," said Aisling, adding, "I feel so lucky that the bakery has grown in the way that it has, it has taken a lot of hard work and I'm proud of my products and myself for getting here."
With Irish cupboard staples like apple tart, round soda bread and seeded spelt bread among Aisling's best sellers, she is constantly looking for ways to introduce new produce and recipes and the bakery recently added porridge scones to the menu, coming in two different flavours; raspberry and coconut and pear and vanilla, which will give you the same nutritious intake as a bowl of porridge as well as a flavour sensation you are sure to love.
As well as a famous round soda which has been smuggled into the US and Australia in suitcases of fans of the delicious loaf, Aisling's older and younger customers look forward to the tasty treat of her delicious Halloween tea bracks which feature a very fancy gemstone ring hidden inside each one.
Next time you have a hankering for good old Galway baking, make sure to pick up one of Aisling's amazing creations. Produce from Aisling's Artisan Bakery are available in Tesco stores throughout Galway.
