School: Shercock
- Location:
- Shercock, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: P. Mac Cana
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1013, Page 310
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- XML “Churning”
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- If a strange enters a house while a churning is in progress he wont be allowed out till he "puts a hand on the churn" and beats a few blows with the churn dash. Otherwise the fairies would steal the butter from the milk. In winter when making a churning a red coal is put under the churn to keep the fairies from stealing the butter. The fairies were supposed to come indoors when the weather gets cold and the red coat frightens them away. The first cup of buttermilk taken from the churn after the butter is removed is thrown out for the fairies.
When the people lift up the lid of the churn and see the butter on the top of the milk they know it is done Then they take the butter off.This was told to me by my Aunt who is 84 years.
- Collector
- Cissie Mc Dermott
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Shercock, Co. Cavan
