Boland's Bakery facts for kids

Boland's Bakery was once the biggest bakery in Dublin, Ireland, during the late 1800s. It was started by the Boland family and became famous for making many tasty treats. They sold all sorts of things like fresh bread, delicious cakes, sweets, flour, and especially biscuits. Over time, their biscuits became their most popular product!

The very first Boland's Bakery was located near Capel Street in Dublin. The Boland family even lived on Capel Street, close to where all the baking magic happened.

A Family Business Grows

After Patrick Boland, who was the father of a famous Olympic champion named John Pius Boland, passed away in 1888, the company changed. It became a public company, meaning people could buy shares in it. Even though it was now a bigger company, many members of the Boland family still owned parts of it.

Where the Baking Happened

Boland's Bakery had several places where they made their products all over Dublin. One of their most well-known spots was Boland's Mill, located by the Grand Canal Dock. They also had a big network to deliver their yummy goods. You could often see their delivery vans, with the Boland's name on them, driving around Dublin until the late 1900s.

Boland's and Irish History

The main Boland's Bakery building, which was on the corner of Grand Canal Street, played an important part in Irish history. During the 1916 Rising, a major event in Ireland's fight for independence, the building was taken over by Irish rebels. A famous leader named Éamon de Valera was in charge of the rebels at this location.

Boland's Bakery also showed its community spirit during another event. When some unemployed people were protesting and occupied the Rotunda Hospital, Boland's Bakery in Capel Street helped out. They generously donated 500 loaves of bread to the demonstrators.

The End of an Era

In the late 1970s, Boland's Bakery joined forces with another well-known company, Jacobs Biscuits Limited. Together, they formed a new company called Irish Biscuits Limited. Much of the biscuit making then moved to a new factory in Tallaght, a suburb of Dublin.

However, over time, many of the products that used to be made in Ireland started being produced in Britain instead, even though they still had Irish brand names. In 2004, the factory in Tallaght finally closed down. Irish Biscuits was bought by different foreign companies, and eventually, a French company called Groupe Danone owned it. Later in 2004, it was sold back to an Irish company, the Fruitfield Food Group.

Boland's Legacy Today

Even though Boland's Bakery as a standalone company no longer exists, its name lives on! Today, you can still find the Boland's name on some popular biscuit brands made by the Jacob Fruitfield Food Group. These include tasty treats like custard creams, cream crackers, and Bourbon creams. Also, if you visit the Grand Canal Dock, you can still clearly see the name 'Boland's Mill' on the old building, a reminder of its rich history.