School: Loch Coiteáin (roll number 10049)
- Location:
- Dromickbane, Co. Kerry
- Teacher: Eibhlín, Bean Uí Shúilleabháin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0454, Page 313
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- Long ago, milk was set in wooden keelers. It was terribly hard work to scour the keelers.
First, they had to be washed with cold water to remove the milk. Then they had to be well scoured with a bunch of heather, in order that all the cream would be got out of the milk. The heather was supposed to make the butter sweet too.
Before the water was taken off the fire to scald them, the bubbles should be seen on top of it. The water had to be boiled on a bright fire, so that no smoke could taint it. No bog-deal should be put in the fire, lest it would dis-colour the water.
The keelers had to be scalded twice with boiling water, after being scoured.
Then they were put out on the wall, to dry and bleach.
The scouring and scalding was done daily. Wooden gallons and big mugs were used for milking.
