Cork engineer Siobhan Magner wins national spud competition

A Co Cork engineer has been crowned Ireland's potato growing champion.

Siobhan Magner came out on top from a field of 15 regional winners in the national "Spud Off" contest.

The judges were impressed by her Colleen potatoes, grown in her back garden in Cork City.

Siobhan said good soil preparation before you plant was the secret to growing prize potatoes.

The Spud Off competition was launched by GIY (Grow it Yourself) and Bord Bia in May of this year to "reconnect Irish people with their inner Spudlove" and encourage people from all across the country to grow, cook and eat spuds.

Over the last four months GIY groups and other Spudlovers from all counties held local Spud Off competitions by growing their own potatoes and entering them in a blind taste trial, where the potatoes were cooked plain with nothing added.

Fifteen local winners went forward to the national Spudlove taste test final hosted by GIY at GROWFest in Waterford.

Organisers Bord Bia and GIY hope the contest will encourage people to grow, cook and eat more spuds.