Preheat the oven to 400°.

Grease an 8-inch round cake pan and boil about 3 cups of water on the stove.

Place the raisins in a small bowl and pour the boiling water over the raisins. Let it stand for 5 minutes to soften the raisins.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and sugar.

With a pastry blender or use two knives, cut in the butter to resemble coarse crumbs.

Drain the raisins and stir them into the flour mixture.

Mix in the buttermilk.

Pat the dough into the prepared pan.

Bake at 400° for 10 minutes, then lower oven to 375° and bake 20 – 30 minutes more or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Invert the soda bread from the pan and cool it on a wire rack for at least an hour.

Store the bread wrapped in aluminum foil at room temperature.