Boland's Bakery
Encyclopedia
'Boland's Bakery' was the largest bakery in Dublin in the late 19th century. It was founded by the Boland family. The company would have sold a number of products such as bread, biscuits, cakes, confectionery and flour, although over the years the biscuit became the company's main product.
The original bakery was off Capel Street between Mary (Abbey) Street and Little Mary Street. The Boland family lived on Capel Street.
Following the death of Patrick Boland (father of future MP and Olympic champion John Pius Boland
), in 1888 the company was floated by the executor of his will Bishop Nicholas Donnelly
, his brother in law. A number of members of the Boland family remained shareholders in the company.
The company had a number of production facilities around the city such as the buildings around Grand Canal Street and Dock as well as a distribution network. Vans with the company name on it were a familiar sight up until the last quarter of the twentieth century.
Boland's Biscuit Mills building on the corner of Grand Canal Street and Macken Street played an integral part in the 1916 Rising and was occupied by Éamon de Valera
. Also during a dispute when unemployed demonstrators, led by the writer Liam O’Flaherty, occupied the Rotunda Hospital
, Boland's Bakery in Capel St. donated 500 loaves to the demonstrators.
In the late 1970s Boland's merged with Jacobs Biscuits Ltd., to form Irish Biscuits Ltd. with much of the production moved to premises in Belgard, Tallaght
. Although many products were now being produced in Britain and labeled as the Irish Brands. In 2004 production at the Tallaght facility stopped. Irish Biscuits were taken over by a number of foreign companies eventually ending up being owned the French Groupe Danone. In 2004 it was sold to the Irish Fruitfield Food Group.
The name survives today in a number of brands produced by Jacob Fruitfield Food Group
, such as Custard creams, Cream crackers and Bourbon creams. The name Boland's Mill
on Grand Canal Dock is still clearly visible.
The original bakery was off Capel Street between Mary (Abbey) Street and Little Mary Street. The Boland family lived on Capel Street.
Following the death of Patrick Boland (father of future MP and Olympic champion John Pius Boland
John Pius Boland
John Mary Pius Boland was an Irish Nationalist politician, and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and as member of the Irish Parliamentary Party for South Kerry 1900-1918...
), in 1888 the company was floated by the executor of his will Bishop Nicholas Donnelly
Nicholas Donnelly
Most Rev. Dr. Nicholas Donnelly, DD, MRIA, was a Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop of Dublin. He was Dublin, 23 November 1837, and educated at Castleknock College, before going on the Irish College in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 1860 and held various positions in the Dublin diocese, and in 1883...
, his brother in law. A number of members of the Boland family remained shareholders in the company.
The company had a number of production facilities around the city such as the buildings around Grand Canal Street and Dock as well as a distribution network. Vans with the company name on it were a familiar sight up until the last quarter of the twentieth century.
Boland's Biscuit Mills building on the corner of Grand Canal Street and Macken Street played an integral part in the 1916 Rising and was occupied by Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
. Also during a dispute when unemployed demonstrators, led by the writer Liam O’Flaherty, occupied the Rotunda Hospital
Rotunda Hospital
The Rotunda Hospital is one of the three main maternity hospitals in the city of Dublin, the others being the The Coombe and The National Maternity Hospital...
, Boland's Bakery in Capel St. donated 500 loaves to the demonstrators.
In the late 1970s Boland's merged with Jacobs Biscuits Ltd., to form Irish Biscuits Ltd. with much of the production moved to premises in Belgard, Tallaght
Tallaght
Tallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...
. Although many products were now being produced in Britain and labeled as the Irish Brands. In 2004 production at the Tallaght facility stopped. Irish Biscuits were taken over by a number of foreign companies eventually ending up being owned the French Groupe Danone. In 2004 it was sold to the Irish Fruitfield Food Group.
The name survives today in a number of brands produced by Jacob Fruitfield Food Group
Jacob Fruitfield Food Group
The Jacob Fruitfield Food Group is an Irish food company. It was formed by Fruitfield Foods' acquisition of the Irish portion of Jacob's Biscuit Group in 2004 from Groupe Danone. The CEO and part-owner is Michael Carey. Other major shareholders include Lioncourt with a 36% stake.It is the owner of...
, such as Custard creams, Cream crackers and Bourbon creams. The name Boland's Mill
Boland's Mill
Boland's Mill is located on the Grand Canal Dock in Dublin, Ireland at the corner of Pearse Street and Barrow St. The majority of the complex consists of silos built in the 1940s. The mill stopped production in 2001 and the site is now derelict...
on Grand Canal Dock is still clearly visible.