School: Maigh Locha (Cailíní)

On this page

1. Churning

   

   Share Share Post

   We have a box churn at home which is 1 1/2 feet tall and 1/4 wide. Two of the sides are round while the other two are straight. It is about four years old. The various parts of the churn are the deck, the handle and the lid. In summer butter is made three times a week, but in winter it is only made twice each week. My mother, my sisters, and myself help to do the churning and this is caried on for half an hour. As this churn is worked by hand a rolling motion from side to side is given.
   When the milk gives a sort of clear sound the butter is made and also when little bits of butter are seen on top of the milk. Sometimes during the process water is poured in to quicken the making of the butter. When the butter is made the butter milk is poured out of the churn. Water is then put into the churn and the handle is twisted again, so by this means the butter is washed. This water is then taken out after which fresh water is poured in, and the butter is finally washed. The butter is then taken out and the water is taken out of it by means of the butter-spade. It is then salted and made up as desired. The butter milk is used for making bread or for fattening pigs.

   (continues on next page)

   

   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

   Nora Keane

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Moylough, Co. Galway

   Informant

   Mrs Keane

   Gender

   Female

   Age

   65

   Address

   Moylough, Co. Galway