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Fancy a Belfast take on Chester cake?

Mother would have been mortified by Cork term for the treat

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.
Fri Jul 31 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READ

Sir, – Cian Flaherty’s excellent piece on Chester cake (An Irishman’s Diary, July 29th) omitted to include one area of the island. In Belfast, my wife informed me, they are called “currant squares” but colloquially known as “flies’ graveyards”.

My own mother used to make the most delicious Chester cake. She was from Cobh, Co Cork, and would have been mortified to hear them called “donkey’s gudge”.

– Yours, etc,

Rowland Reece,

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