School: Monreagh (roll number 7143)
- Location:
- Monreagh, Co. Donegal
- Teacher: R. J. James
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1105, Page 85
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- XML School: Monreagh
- XML Page 85
- XML “Churning”
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- We have a churn at home 2ft 8" inches high and about 16" inches in diameter. It is made of oak which is a hard timber and lasts a long time. We have this churn 8 years and it is quite good yet.
Before starting to churn the milk has to be thickened in crocks or butts. Then it is put into the churn. There is a large shaft with a head on it called a churn staff. The churner lifts this up and down in the milk for about one hour. If visitors calls you generally ask them to take a brash for luck.
You need to add some hot water after churning for about an hour a knife is dipped into the milk and if little grains of butter stick to it the butter is ready taking off.
Then you take it in a wooden dish and wash it then you salt it and hair it. There is no mark on the side or bottom of our churn. The sides are round. There is no saying connected with it. You need more(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Emily Wray
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Derrymore, Co. Donegal
- Informant
- William Gardiner
- Relation
- Grandparent
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Derrymore, Co. Donegal
