School: Cloverhill
- Location:
- Cloverhill, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: S. Marcus
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1024, Page 198
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- XML “Churning”
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- Churning.
The churn used in this district is about 3 feet high. 1 2/2 feet wide at the top and 2 feet wide at the bottom.
It is a dash churn. The are no marks on the sides or bottom.
Butter is made once a week in the Winter and twice a week in the Summer.
The women usually do the churning.
The churning usually takes half an hour to 3/4 hour and is done by hand. The dash is moved up and down. If cool, warm water is poured in to hasten the work. If very warm, cold water is sometimes poured in.
Strangers who come in while the churning is going on help at the work.
People know when the butter is made by the change in the sound and the feel of the dash.
The butter is taken out by hand or a strainer, washed well in cold water, salted, and made into shape with butter spades or a butter 'print'.
No local sayings, proverbs or stories with churning and butter making.
Some of the butter mil is used for bread making and the rest given to pigs and calves.
