Celebration cakes and handmade pastries are at the heart of food Ireland, but few bakery stories are as moving as Una Leonard’s. From a small kitchen in Mullingar, she built 2210 Patisserie into a much-loved name whose cakes are now ordered by well-known Irish personalities.
Una’s journey is not simply a story about business growth. It is about creativity, family, resilience and finding a reason to keep going during one of the most difficult periods of her life.
How 2210 Patisserie began in Mullingar
Una founded 2210 Patisserie in 2015, when she was 22 and recovering from serious mental health struggles. After taking time away from college and returning from rehabilitation, baking in her late mother Pauline’s kitchen became a source of happiness and purpose.
While walking along Mount Street in Mullingar, Una spotted a simple notice advertising a café space in turnkey condition for €750. She made the decision almost immediately. At the time, she was not focused on creating one of the most talked-about bakeries in Irish food news Ireland; she simply wanted a kitchen where she could work creatively.
There was no detailed business plan or major financial backing. Una kept a part-time job while trying to keep the bakery open, often beginning work in the early hours of the morning. The demanding start required determination, but the kitchen gave her a focus she desperately needed.
A family business with a meaningful name
The name 2210 has a personal connection. It refers to the birthday of Una’s nephew Conor, born on February 2, 2010. Family members played an important role during the early years, particularly Una’s mother Pauline.
Pauline encouraged her daughter to take on the larger Mullingar premises that 2210 Patisserie occupies today. Una has described her mother as a central part of the business and someone who gave her the confidence to take important steps when funding and expansion felt daunting.
Pauline died earlier in 2026 following an illness. Her loss came while Una was writing her second book, Good Together, making that period especially challenging. The bakery’s success therefore carries a strong family connection as well as a personal one.
Read more: Discover more Irish lifestyle and food stories through Ireland food recommendations and food news from Daily Digest.
Why customers keep returning to 2210 Patisserie
Today, 2210 Patisserie is known for celebration cakes and nationwide delivery. Its customers include public figures such as Pippa O’Connor, Charleen Murphy and Doireann Garrihy, helping establish the bakery as a recognisable name in the Irish food scene.
However, Una says personal connection remains just as important as the products. She is determined to preserve the face-to-face contact that makes an independent bakery feel special, rather than allowing the business to become entirely screen-based.
Customers can visit the bakery’s locations on Pearse Street in Mullingar and at Powerscourt Centre in Dublin. Cakes can also be delivered nationwide, making the business accessible to people searching for memorable celebration desserts beyond the Midlands.
- Special occasion and celebration cakes
- Nationwide cake delivery
- Bakery locations in Mullingar and Dublin
- A strong emphasis on personal customer connection
Explore more: For wider Ireland restaurant guide and Dublin food coverage, browse Media Digest, or find additional lifestyle inspiration at Luxé Digest’s Irish dining guide.
A powerful story within Ireland’s food scene
Una Leonard’s experience shows that a food business can begin with a very modest idea and grow through persistence, community and genuine passion. 2210 Patisserie may now be associated with celebrity cakes, but its foundation was built in a family kitchen and shaped by the belief that baking could bring joy back into everyday life.
For anyone following food Ireland, 2210 Patisserie is a reminder that the country’s most meaningful food stories are often about the people behind the counter. Una’s bakery has become a successful destination for cakes, but its lasting appeal comes from the warmth, creativity and human connection behind every order.
Article/Image Courtesy: EVOKE
