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The Butter Exchange is an iconic building in Cork City flanked by St Anne’s Church and Shandon Bells on one side and the Firkin Crane on the other. It was the evening of the Cork IFA summer social.
A nice itinerary was planned by the organisers, a visit to the Butter Museum and a tour of St Anne’s. This would be followed by a buffet meal in the Maldron Hotel, formerly the North Infirmary Hospital.
Peter Foynes, company secretary was on hand to welcome us to the Butter Museum. Johnny O’Brien, Barryroe and John O’Sullivan, Whitechurch, who are both board members, were also among the visitors.
The Butter Museum celebrates the dairy farming culture of Ireland that led to a vibrant butter trade in the early 19th century in Cork, through the internationally important butter exchange.
This in turn led to the development of the Kerrygold brand which has become a phenomenal success.
Stepping back in time
Once into the Butter Museum, a striking black and white picture of a young girl dominated the left hand wall. She had her hand on a large churn about to take out milk to make butter in a hand-held butter maker.
She is none other than Tim’s aunt Madge Aherne, who is now in her late eighties. My sister-in-law Laoise (above), posed for a picture with Madge.
It was lovely to put on the headphones and hear Madge’s strong, youthful voice. She talks of making butter every day on the dairy farm in Dromin where her nephew Denis Coleman farms today.
There were seven children in Madge’s generation and their parents. That was nine people to feed. At least a pound of butter was consumed every day by the family. It was eaten with bread and potatoes and used for baking.
There is nothing like butter for wholesome goodness so long as we remember not to have too much. That’s hard, especially when new potatoes are on the kitchen table.
The museum recalls the domestic, commercial and social life of rural Ireland through the story of butter.
The Butter Museum continues to receive documents and artefacts – if you have things like butter wrappers or any old butter making equipment lying around at home, do donate them for future generations to enjoy.
Most of the IFA members visiting remembered butter being made on the farm at some time in their lives. The new generation of farmers do not have that memory.
Our group then moved on to climb the steps of Shandon. I skipped this leg of the tour. I’m told historian, John Mulcahy, delivered an interesting talk there. Then it was time to eat and chat with colleagues and friends in the Maldron Hotel.
Presentation of awards
Conor O’Leary, regional chairman was master of ceremonies. The business of the evening was to present lifetime membership of IFA to Mary Bugler, Innishannon branch and Liam Ryan, Kilbrittain branch.
The president of IFA, Francie Gorman, made the presentations. In doing so he said that the recognition of people who had worked hard in IFA through the lifetime membership awards was one of the stand out positives of the organisation.
In finding out about Mary and Liam, he said that they were both involved in their communities too. Liam served as chairman of the National Pigs Committee from 1995 to 1999. In accepting his award he stressed the importance of having a unified IFA fighting for decent prices for farmers.
Mary acknowledged her old friends and lots of new faces. She said, “we might not have always seen eye to eye but we had a healthy relationship.”
My memories of Mary go back to her judging us at Macra debates. She was tough. Then in her time in IFA, she’d often come in late having been at a camogie meeting first and then on to do her IFA business.
She represented the sheep sector with gusto in Cork and at national level. She made sure the voice of the farmers she represented was heard.
Both recipients recognised the honour of the award, the support of their families and the wonderful friends and contacts they had made throughout the organisation.
They wished IFA success in the future. It was a lovely social evening.
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