She was due to be the star of the show.

Mary Berry was heading to Ploughing 2018 to meet her fans at the National Dairy Council, but another woman stood in her way, Storm Ali.

Unfortunately, Mary Berry didn’t make it on to site on the Wednesday of Ploughing, but she did get to meet the three lucky finalists of the Dare to Dairy with Mary competition.

Anne Dunne, from Mallow in Co Cork, a mome economics teacher who lives on a dairy, beef and tillage farm in Mitchelstown created some stunning hazelnut sable biscuits with ricotta mousse, caramelised pears and crushed praline.

Sonia Steedman added volume to the traditional sponge with her pistachio, rosewater, raspberry and white chocolate cake and Natasha Daly from Bitt was all about the impressive presentation with her wild blackberry and sloe gin cakes.

Mary enjoyed these sweet treats with the finalists, but also took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to talk to Ciara Leahy from Irish Country Living about the finalists' creations and her disappointment to not make it on site.