School: Tomhaggard

Location:
Tomhaggard, Co. Wexford
Teacher:
Séamus Ó Riain
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0877, Page 285

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0877, Page 285

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  1. XML School: Tomhaggard
  2. XML Page 285
  3. XML “Churning”

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  1. The churn we have at home is erected on a stand and is about five feet in height. The diameter of the top and bottom is about three feet. It is a circular churn and holds thirty five gallons. The churn is almost ten years old.
    The different parts of the churn are, firstly, the stand, secondly, the barrel and thirdly, the lid. In the lid there is a valve which is used to allow the gas to escape from the churn. The maker's brand is stamped on the bottom. It is a Llewelin churn.
    Churning is done three times weekly in summer and twice in winter. If strangers come in while the churning is taking place it is the custom that they turn the churn for a little while. If this is not done superstitious people believe that there will not be the usual amount of butter on the cream as the strangers take away the butter with them.
    Churning usually takes about twenty minutes.
    In the lid of the churn there is a small glass, through which the milk can be seen. Before the butter appears, the glass
    (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
    Phyllis Codd
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Grange, Co. Wexford