School: Clochar na Trócaire (Scoil Naomh Seosaimh) (roll number 13770)

Location:
Mohill, Co. Leitrim
Teacher:
Eibhlín Ní Sheabhlaigh
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0215, Page 242

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0215, Page 242

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  1. XML School: Clochar na Trócaire (Scoil Naomh Seosaimh)
  2. XML Page 242
  3. XML “Churning”

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  1. (continued from previous page)
    242
    and four times in Summer. My mother always does the churning. It is customary for strangers who come in during churning to give a hand even for a moment. It is an old saying that if they don't, they are supposed to take the butter with them. The churning generally takes three quarters of an hour. When butter collects in large quantities the work is done. In Winter boiling water is poured in and in Summer lukewarm water. This is done to bring the cream to a certain temperature. The butter is gathered together by moving the dash slowely round the top of the milk. It is then lifted out with a wooden butter cup on to a wooden dish made for the purpose. It is then washed with spring water using two butter spades until every drop of buttermilk is left it. This done it is salted and washed again. Now it is ready for use. It was an old saying that if you sprinkle May flowers round the cow-house on the first of May that by a stranger not taking the churn on coming in, the butter would not be lost on you during the year.
    (continues on next page)
    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
    Úna Ní Raghnall
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Drumdoo, Co. Leitrim