School: An Chúil Árd (C.) (roll number 12588)
- Location:
- Coolard, Co. Kerry
- Teacher: Máire Ní Liaghain
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0401, Page 333
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- XML “Churning”
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- In olden times before creameries were built people had their own method for making butter.
When the cows were milked the milk was put into pans, and left there to set for about twenty four hours. Then the cream was skimmed off with a saucer or a wooden skimmer. The cream was put into a cream tub and left there for six days until it would be sour.
Then it was put into the churn.
A churn-staff was used. It was a long pole of timber with a block at its end. On top of the churn was a lid with the churn-staff passing through.
The staff was worked up and down until the butter was made.
The custom was that if anyone came in while the woman of the home was churning he would take the turn and say "God bless the work".
No woman would allow anyone to take out a coal of fire while she was churning for fear the person would take away her butter.
- Collector
- Nora Walsh
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Inch East, Co. Kerry
- Informant
- Joseph Walsh
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 60
- Address
- Inch East, Co. Kerry
