School: Naoimh Ióseiph (roll number 15628)

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1. Churning (continued)

   

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   Mr. Reynolds, a highly-skilled cooper who lives in Mockmayne on the Ballymote road.
   We churn four times a week in Summer and twice a week in Winter. It is very heavy work, and we all take a "turn" at the churning. If a stranger happens to call while the work is going on he never fails to lend a hand as there is a local superstitious belief handed down for generations that the "good luck of the cows" is safe-guarded in this way. I have often seen a forgetful neighbour, even in the harvest rush, return apologetically to our house to lend a helping hand.
   The churning generally lasts an hour, and is done by hand. The churner does not continually move the dash upwards and downwards. To agitate the milk more and thus expedite the work he also gives the dash a rolling motion from side to side. When the cream is properly ripened the churning is done in a short time.
   Some people assume that the cream is churned when the first small particles of butter appear on the lid. This is a great mistake, as the work is not fully completed till these small particles collect together to form larger lumps. Water is occasionally poured in during the process Warm water is poured in if

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. economic activities
         1. agriculture (~2,659)
            1. butter and churns (~3,280)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Michael Conway

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Boyle, Co. Roscommon

   Informant

   Mrs Bridget Mc Gee

   Gender

   Female

   Age

   70

   Address

   Termon, Co. Roscommon