Mark Douglas, owner of Northern Irish bakery Krazi Baker, has opened a cookery school to raise awareness of traditional Irish griddle breads.

Currently based at his home bakery in Dromore, Co Down, the classes are for up to eight people at a time and cost £20 a person. In the future, Douglas is hoping to run residential courses at nearby hotel Newforge House, Co Armagh.

He is hoping the classes will raise the profile of traditional Irish goods, such as soda bread, potato cakes, wheaten loaves and all-butter shortbread, which he bakes on a griddle at farmers’ markets and shows across Ireland.

He said: “The days when traditional breads like potato cakes and soda farls were regularly baked in many homes, especially in Northern Ireland, have long gone.

“It’s a skill that appears to be dying, and that’s sad because griddle breads are tastier. This recognition led me to attempt to do something to keep the technique alive. The bakery school is a logical extension of this commitment. I’ve already organised several sessions and these have proved extremely popular.”

Douglas traditionally bakes and sells his products at events, but recently launched tins of Irish shortbread as his first packaged retail product.