School: An Chlais Mhór, Eóchaill (roll number 2889)

Location:
Clashmore, Co. Waterford
Teacher:
Liam Suipéal
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0640, Page 429

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0640, Page 429

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  1. XML School: An Chlais Mhór, Eóchaill
  2. XML Page 429
  3. XML “Churning”

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  1. There are too kinds of churns used. One is used for carrying milk to the creamery and the other is used for making butter. This is called a churn-barrel. This churn is always in a dairy fixed on a stand and has two handles. There are hoops on it. There is also a space in the centre to put the cream and a ventilator to leave the air out of the cream. When the cream is put into the barrel, two people will catch the handles and keep twisting it for an hour. They can see through the glass when the cream will crack. They they have to twist it slowly for five minutes, until the butter gathers together. After that the butter-milk is all left out of the barrel. The butter is then taken out and washed in clean water for several times. People used also make butter in an earthenware jug with a dasher. In May-night it was a great custom with the old people to make butter in a bottle. When a person is making butter and anyone come into the dairy they would have to turn the barrel three times. Long ago some people used to set charms to take the butter away from their neighbour.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. economic activities
        1. agriculture (~2,659)
          1. butter and churns (~3,280)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Christina Murphy
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Coolbagh, Co. Waterford