There is a French saying that if a village loses its baker, it will die. Without du pain each morning, a community simply cannot survive any more.
It is a comforting thought for Jimmy Griffin, fourth-generation baker and proprietor of Griffin's in Galway's Shop Street, as he takes the plane to Nantes in France in a few days' time. The master baker is one of a team of three defending Ireland's name at the European Cup for Bakery this coming weekend.
Accompanying him will be Gemma Flynn from Dublin, Paul Galloway from across the Border and Tony Farrell, team manager and international judge. Last time, in 1997, Mr Griffin was among the Irish competitors who took third prize overall, while Ireland was fourth in 1995.
The contest comprises three categories, and Mr Griffin will be performing in the European pastry section.
In 1997 the team produced a 2 1/2-foot model of Clonmacnois, made entirely from bread, for the artistic section. A little licence had to be taken with some of the dimensions when they discovered the size of the oven available for use.