This is the most legit Traditional Irish Brown Bread out there. Warm from the oven and slathered in butter... you won't even need anything else to go with it.
Mix the flours, bread soda, and salt together in a bowl.
Combine the egg with the buttermilk and honey, then mix into the flour. Add a little more buttermilk if the mixture is dry – it should be a soft dough.
Pour the dough into a lightly oiled loaf tin. Sprinkle the oats over the top of the loaf if desired.
Bake for 45-50 minutes. To know when it is cooked simply tap the loaf – it will sound hollow when it is fully cooked.
Let cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then turn out to cool. Wrap in a clean tea towel while cooling. This will keep the crust soft.