Special Attractions at South East Clare Show

Bridgetown Co-op Creamery Ltd. 1913 - 2013

Rules of Bridgetown Co-op Creamery, Ltd. - Reproduced from an original copy with the kind permission of Tommy Hayes, Knockaderen, Ballynevin, Bridgetown.

Bridgetown Agricultural Society

The following information on the establishment of the Bridgetown Agricultural Co-operation Society was taken from Edward E Lysaght book Sir Horace Plunkett. “His Place in the Irish Nation” Published 1916.

In his introduction he wrote, it is almost impossible to pick any one village in Ireland to illustrate the successful working of the Co-operation idea. I choose Bridgetown, Co. Clare simply because I know the place intimately having been a regular visitor to Mr Ernest Brown at Clonboy who was one of the first landlords to identify himself with the aspirations of the Co-operate movement. Nearly all my facts were gleamed from a single visit and a few hours talk with the local Secretary Mr Hogan who gave me what information he though fit.

The Bridgetown Agricultural Society was started in August 1911; no trading was done until January 2nd 1912. It was registered the 11th November 1911, under the Industrial and Provident Act 1893.

The turnover of the Society trading in the Agricultural goods was £741 18s. 7 ½d, and that year the Society met a loss of £12 8s. 3d, which was due to uneducated co-operators, and we had to meet the competition of the day.

In 1913 a Hired Implement Society was attached, consisting of 1 horse sprayer, 1 potato digger and 1 manure distributor. Value of machines at end, less depreciation, was £42 6s. 4d. Total earnings for year were £17 9s. 9d. The Agricultural Department turnover of this year was £1153 2s. 7 ½d. The result of 1913 trading was a net profit of £6 8s. 5d.

In 1914 the Society’s turnover was £1492 16s. 10d. earnings of hired implement were £12 17s. The result of the 1914 trading was a net profit of £11 1s. 8d.

In 1915 the Society added other machines to the Hired Implement Society, and this branch now consists of 1 horse sprayer, 1 reaper and binder, 1 slag distributor, 2 turnip sowers, 1 disc harrow, 2 potato diggers, 1 knapsack sprayer. Value at end less depreciation, was £81 17s, and the total earnings of year were £33 13s.

Also this year 1915 a Poultry and Egg Society was attached and resulted in a turnover of £553 4s. 5d. The agricultural sales were for the full year £1897 10s. 4 ½d.

We are in possession of a beautiful store on the bank of the Shannon at O’ Briens Bridge, which cost the Society £234 19s. 4d. to erect. According to statistics I have taken the tillage has increased 15 per cent, due to the Hired Implement Society. Poultry is taken up in a serious way since we starred the Poultry and Egg Society.

Our Agricultural Department is a boom to the farmers of the district, for all good are sold under a guarantee of analysis of percentage of purity and germination given on all seeds, and percentage of oils and albuminoids given on feeding stuffs.

We keep up supplies as far as our over drawing powers allow us. We have the use of £1000, and nearly at all times of the year we make full use of this amount.

Furthermore the Agricultural Society laid the foundation stone of Co-operation, and on the foundation we have the three societies working, Agricultural, Hired Implements and Poultry and Egg. Also it founded the Creamery Society, which is working very successfully. It cost us the sum of £1400 odd to erect. It is going on its third year working.

The Creamery Society is separate from the others. Their success gave the farmers of the district sufficient confidence in themselves to set up a creamery within a hundred yards of an old established one belonging to the most powerful private firm in the country, because they felt that by so doing they would get the full fruits of their work. The result has justified their self reliance, for there is now the milk of nearly 500 cows going into their co-operative creamery, while that of less than half that number finds its way into the other; and the price of the milk is higher than that given by the private concern.

By way of comment on this letter I would say that Bridgetown has benefited from co-operation, as I know myself, in four distinct ways. It has learnt business method and made more money than it would have made without co-operation. It had gained a sprit of independence and self reliance. It has increased its tillage and so its employment of labour. It has saved for the country the energy of its secretary and creamery manager, the former at least of whom, I know, would have other wise been an emigrant to America. It has gained morally, psychologically and materially. And if a mere parish as thus profited, how much must Ireland as s whole have benefited from co-operation, how much must it do for her in the future.

Early Ploughing Matches

The Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland was established in 1841. Its objectives were to encourage agricultural and farming pursuits, by holding agricultural shows and supporting local farming societies. Some of these in turn organised ploughing matches which were used to promote the merits of the iron plough.

Co. Offaly Ploughing match at Tullamore 1843
Twenty four ploughs started at Tullamore ploughing match and the work done was highly creditable. The field was a beautiful lawn of perhaps 36 inches deep and without a single stone. It would be but justice to Sherdian and Sons to say that the best work done at the Westmeath match, and that this, was that performed by ploughs of their manufacture. A beautiful sample of sub-soil ploughing was exhibited by Mr. William Levinge of Westmeath and was pronounced by small farmers to be a “powerful fine institution”. All the gentlemen of rank and distinction including Lord Charleville, were present.
Source: Freeman’s Journal 3rd February, 1843

Co. Clare Ploughing match at Spancillhill 1847
Clare ploughing match came off on a field upon Col. Wyndhams Spancilhill Model Farm on Saturday last. Eight well appointed ploughs started on the occasion. The work was in general very well done considering the hardness of the ground owing to the pervious dry weather. The ploughs were chiefly Barrowmans and although the stiffness of the ground was against them a few did their work very well in raising an arise on the furrow slice. The judges were James Buncragg and James Johnston. The men and horses had a refreshment when half done and again when they finished their work. The day being fine a number of spectators were in attendance among them a large number of gentlemen and a few ladies.
Source: The Limerick Chronicle 19th March 1947

Co. Clare Ploughing match at Ballycar 1873
An important trial of double furrow and other plough is to take place tomorrow afternoon on one of the fields of Major Studdert, near Ballycar Station. The arrangements are under the supervision of Messrs J. and G. Boyd, agricultural implement agents from Limerick and under such auspices, may be confidently expected to give satisfaction.
It is not often the farmers of the county have such an opportunity of testing practically the merits of the various ploughs offered for their selection and, should the weather prove propitious it will no doubt be largely availed of.
Source: The Clare Journal 12th February 1873

Compiled by Fred Bourke

Bridgetown Fairs

A patent was granted in 1745 to John Brown of Clonboy House, to hold fairs at Bridgetown, on May 30 and 31, and November 3 and 4. By mid 19th century these dates had been changed to June 10 and November 25. The number of fairs held annually had increased to four by the end of the century. On the morning of the November fair of 1866, William Steel Studdert, who had leased the Clonboy estate from the Browns, entertained about thirty gentlemen for breakfast. It was a substantial meal, consisting of ham, fowl, eggs, beef and mutton and tea, coffee bread and butter. Mrs. Studdert, with true Irish hospitality, presided at the table. This early morning meal proved so popular with the visiting gentry that the Limerick Chronicle of 13 June 1868 reported that nearly two hundred were served breakfast on the morning of the June fair of that year.

A weighbridge was essential at fairs and markets and tolls could not be collected unless a weighbridge was provided. Inspectors of weights and measures regularly inspected these weighbridges and stamped the weights. Ernest Brown of Clonboy House erected a weighbridge at the Bridgetown Green, in the early years of the 20th Century. In later years James O’Sullivan was in charge of operating the weighbridge. It was removed in May 1978. Saturday was market day at Bridgetown.
Tolls:
The patentee of Bridgetown tolls was the Brown family of Clonboy. The Tolls of the Bridgetown fairs in later times were leased to the Quinlivan family at £30 a year. John Quinlivan got the tolls for 21 years lease, at the yearly rent of £20 in 1836, and had it renewed in 1856 on the same terms. His son John was the toll collector until the 1920’s. in 1920, an effort was mad to collect tolls on all animals, at entry to the fairs. Naturally this move was much resented by the farmers.

The dispute continued for about two years. Finally, a deputation from the Bridgetown branch of the Irish Farmers Union called on Ernest Brown and an amicable settlement was reached. In April 1922, Brown, the patentee, and John Quinlivan, clerk of fairs, issued a notice to the effect that henceforth tolls would be collected on purchased cattle only, as in the old system. Paddy Quinlivan was the last toll collector at Bridgetown.

The above information on the Fairs of Bridgtown was taken from “The Killaloe Anthology” by Sean Kierse Published 2001.

Bridgetown Co-op Creamery Ltd. 1913 - 2013

A century of success
Researched and complied by Freddie Bourke
Photograph and typesetting by Caitríona Bourke

Ernest Brown Founding Member

Born in st Mount Brown near Ballingarry, Co. Limerick in 1864. Ernest educated at Trinity College Dublin. When his father died in 1907, he inherited the Clonboy Estate as well as other lands at Ballynagown, Lisnagry. In 1907 he described himself as a farmer of about 2,000 acres. The Clonboy estate consisted of 893 acres.

Ernest Brown was loved and respected by his Tenants. He was a strong supporter of the co-operative movement founded by Horace Plunkett, a founder member of the Irish Famers Federation and he attended the Landlords convention of 1902. Ernest Brown backed the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and during the WW1 served with the British Army in East Germany and East Africa. Ernest Brown died 19^th October 1942 and was buried in the family vault in Killaloe Cathedral graveyard.

His memorial tablet in the Cathedral, quote the following verse from the Book of Proverbs:

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches
And loving favour rather than silver and gold.
The rich and the poor meet together
The Lord is the maker of them all.

Centenary souvenir brass plat

A list of Early Suppliers

1. John Whelan, Leitrim
2. Mike Flannery, Ardnatagle
3. Jack Aherne, Mountpelier
4. Jack Wolfe, Bridgetown
5. Paddy Shallooe, Leitrim
6. Peter Nihill, Ballynevin
7. Pa Joe Nihill, Cloncloher
8. William Ryan (The Bait), Monaglee
9. Danny Hayes, Knockadeern
10. John Moynihan, Monaglee
11. Mullins (Tommy Conlon), Ardnatagle
12. Michael Vaughan, Ross

A list of Committee Members

Patrick (Brud) Skeehan
John Bolton
Jack Aherne, Mountpelier
John Skeehan, Ballynevin
Mat Kelly, Knockadeern
James Pearse, Cappakea
Jack Hayes (The Boss Man), Leitrim
Michael Moloney, Ballynevin

Early Chairpersons

William Walsh, Lacaerigh
Jack Wolfe, Bridgetown
Michael Vaughan, Ross
Jimmy Ryan, Lower Park

Creamery Managers

Gleeson, Ballyhayne, Birdhill
Gerry Lyons, Maurice Barry

Above lists contributed by Johnny Skeehan, Ballynevin.

Dairy and Butter Markets before 1913

Prior to the establishment of the creamery Industry a well organized trading system for butter had developed. Famers sold their butter to dealers at the Limerick Butter and Milk Market on Saturdays. The measure used to contain the butter was called a firkin and in terms of capacity contained about 70 Ibs of butter. In the late autumn and Winter many producers hadn’t sufficient butter to fill one firkin and in this case neighbouring famers jointly produced the firkin for market. The main local market would have been the weekly Saturday Limerick Butter and Milk Market

August 1889 Limerick Chronicle

At the Limerick Butter Market on Saturday the numbers of firkins exhibited for sale exceeded 2,500. Prices ranged from 58s to 62s per firkin. The main buyers were O’Hallorans Ennis, Messrs Russell Limerick, Messrs Tobin Tipperary, Matthews Limerick and Reidys Cork.

The main butter buyer in the Limerick area was an English company Pearsons and Rutter who traded under the name Matthews. The company had a factory at Mulgrave Street Limerick. When the butter reached the factory at Mulgrave Street it was cleaned washed sorted and graded, packed in 56 pound butter boxes and held in cold storage until the day of export. Their main market was London and Industrial parts of Northern England.

The Traveling Creamery

A travelling creamery operated in Clonlara and Truagh in the 1950’s. Several travelling creameries processed milk from hundreds of suppliers all over Clare.

The Creamery manager at each stop would take in the milk, weigh and sample before sending it through to the separator which was powered by the Lorries engine. The cream was stored in milk cans for transportation back to central depot.

By the late 1950’s travelling creameries were finally taken off the road due to compulsory pasteurization. Suppliers then turned to their nearest creamery mainly Parteen and Bridgetown.

The Creamery Lorry

National portable milking machine purchased in 1960 from Loughman Dairy Equipment Shop at Nicholas St. Limerick. Price including a spare glass jar £142.

A rare Diabolo Rotary Churn

Through the decades milk suppliers of Bridgetown Creamery gave annual contributions of butter to the Franciscans. The annual visit from this religious order was usually at harvest time when farmers were more than generous.

The creamery manager and suppliers were rewarded with prayers, and masses were offered for their intentions. The Religious order did not collect the butter but instead accepted a cheque from management to its value. This butter donation by milk suppliers was a practice carried out throughout the Diocese of Killaloe and continued until 1980’s.

Dairy butter scoop

The fertilizer was taken from the boat at Limerick docks and loaded onto lorries by winch and manually unloaded at farmyards and Creamery stores. In the early years slag came packed in 2 cwt jute bags, containing a few layers of black dust as a result one would finish the day looking as if you were a black man.

Conclusion

Since the establishment of the Bridgetown Co-op in 1913 we have seen change in rural life. Everyone living in Bridgetown has only to look about to notice great difference. Rural population has declined; we read in local newspapers the closure of pubs, shops and post offices in rural villages. In many parishes the local creamery has been abandoned or demolished and replaced by lorry and driver, far from the days of the queue where so many delivered milk in tankards by horse and cart.

Over the last century nearly every household in the Bridgetown area has benefited from the Co-op. Monies earned from selling milk to the Co-op enabled them to purchase their first motor car, tractor or improve their holdings. The opening of the first agricultural store in the 1960’s was another venture contributed to the progress and improvements on many farms. I’m glad to say continues to this day.

Responsible for a lot of change was the arrival of rural electrification in 1959. This made working conditions in the farm more favourable and allowed more profitable enterprises to be expanded. Entry into the EEC in 1973 offered new market, outlets for our agricultural commodities and guaranteed prices. In the late 70’s Bridgetown Co-op was amalgamated with Nenagh Co-op later to become Arrabawn. We have seen Europe introduce the Common Agricultural Policy and Reforms such as milk quotas in 1984, McSharry Reform 1992 and now abolishment of milk quotas in 2015.

In conclusion dairying since the foundation of Bridgetown Co-op Creamery Ltd has proven to be a valuable and rewarding source of income. As we move along the decades it seems to be the most likely type of farming to be involved in, monthly income is predictable, there’s a future for those who remain with it. Farming can be described as a vocation so dairy farmers encourage your heirs to remain with dairying.

Victorian Butter stamp

The above information was researched and complied by Freddie Bourke, and appeared in the 2013 Show Catalogue as part of the Arrabawn Co-op Bridgetown Branch Centenary Year 1913-2013

Taken on Maurice Barry’s last day at Bridgetown Creamery - 1992
L-R - Jimmy Ryan (Kilbane), John Nolan (Bridgetown), Jackie Skehan (Ballynevin), James Pearse (Cappakee), Michael Moloney (Ballynevin), Maurice Barry, Kathleen Barry, Jack Balton (Fahy), Mickey Larkin (Cloncloher).

	South East Clare Agricultural Show
	*Local History*
Bridgetown Agricultural Society Early Ploughing Matches Bridgetown Fairs Bridgetown Co-op Creamery Ltd. 1913 - 2013 Rules of Bridgetown Co-op Creamery, Ltd. - Reproduced from an original copy with the kind permission of Tommy Hayes, Knockaderen, Ballynevin, Bridgetown. Bridgetown Agricultural Society The following information on the establishment of the Bridgetown Agricultural Co-operation Society was taken from Edward E Lysaght book Sir Horace Plunkett. “His Place in the Irish Nation” Published 1916. In his introduction he wrote, it is almost impossible to pick any one village in Ireland to illustrate the successful working of the Co-operation idea. I choose Bridgetown, Co. Clare simply because I know the place intimately having been a regular visitor to Mr Ernest Brown at Clonboy who was one of the first landlords to identify himself with the aspirations of the Co-operate movement. Nearly all my facts were gleamed from a single visit and a few hours talk with the local Secretary Mr Hogan who gave me what information he though fit. The Bridgetown Agricultural Society was started in August 1911; no trading was done until January 2nd 1912. It was registered the 11th November 1911, under the Industrial and Provident Act 1893. The turnover of the Society trading in the Agricultural goods was £741 18s. 7 ½d, and that year the Society met a loss of £12 8s. 3d, which was due to uneducated co-operators, and we had to meet the competition of the day. In 1913 a Hired Implement Society was attached, consisting of 1 horse sprayer, 1 potato digger and 1 manure distributor. Value of machines at end, less depreciation, was £42 6s. 4d. Total earnings for year were £17 9s. 9d. The Agricultural Department turnover of this year was £1153 2s. 7 ½d. The result of 1913 trading was a net profit of £6 8s. 5d. In 1914 the Society’s turnover was £1492 16s. 10d. earnings of hired implement were £12 17s. The result of the 1914 trading was a net profit of £11 1s. 8d. In 1915 the Society added other machines to the Hired Implement Society, and this branch now consists of 1 horse sprayer, 1 reaper and binder, 1 slag distributor, 2 turnip sowers, 1 disc harrow, 2 potato diggers, 1 knapsack sprayer. Value at end less depreciation, was £81 17s, and the total earnings of year were £33 13s. Also this year 1915 a Poultry and Egg Society was attached and resulted in a turnover of £553 4s. 5d. The agricultural sales were for the full year £1897 10s. 4 ½d. We are in possession of a beautiful store on the bank of the Shannon at O’ Briens Bridge, which cost the Society £234 19s. 4d. to erect. According to statistics I have taken the tillage has increased 15 per cent, due to the Hired Implement Society. Poultry is taken up in a serious way since we starred the Poultry and Egg Society. Our Agricultural Department is a boom to the farmers of the district, for all good are sold under a guarantee of analysis of percentage of purity and germination given on all seeds, and percentage of oils and albuminoids given on feeding stuffs. We keep up supplies as far as our over drawing powers allow us. We have the use of £1000, and nearly at all times of the year we make full use of this amount. Furthermore the Agricultural Society laid the foundation stone of Co-operation, and on the foundation we have the three societies working, Agricultural, Hired Implements and Poultry and Egg. Also it founded the Creamery Society, which is working very successfully. It cost us the sum of £1400 odd to erect. It is going on its third year working. The Creamery Society is separate from the others. Their success gave the farmers of the district sufficient confidence in themselves to set up a creamery within a hundred yards of an old established one belonging to the most powerful private firm in the country, because they felt that by so doing they would get the full fruits of their work. The result has justified their self reliance, for there is now the milk of nearly 500 cows going into their co-operative creamery, while that of less than half that number finds its way into the other; and the price of the milk is higher than that given by the private concern. By way of comment on this letter I would say that Bridgetown has benefited from co-operation, as I know myself, in four distinct ways. It has learnt business method and made more money than it would have made without co-operation. It had gained a sprit of independence and self reliance. It has increased its tillage and so its employment of labour. It has saved for the country the energy of its secretary and creamery manager, the former at least of whom, I know, would have other wise been an emigrant to America. It has gained morally, psychologically and materially. And if a mere parish as thus profited, how much must Ireland as s whole have benefited from co-operation, how much must it do for her in the future. Early Ploughing Matches The Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland was established in 1841. Its objectives were to encourage agricultural and farming pursuits, by holding agricultural shows and supporting local farming societies. Some of these in turn organised ploughing matches which were used to promote the merits of the iron plough. Co. Offaly Ploughing match at Tullamore 1843 Twenty four ploughs started at Tullamore ploughing match and the work done was highly creditable. The field was a beautiful lawn of perhaps 36 inches deep and without a single stone. It would be but justice to Sherdian and Sons to say that the best work done at the Westmeath match, and that this, was that performed by ploughs of their manufacture. A beautiful sample of sub-soil ploughing was exhibited by Mr. William Levinge of Westmeath and was pronounced by small farmers to be a “powerful fine institution”. All the gentlemen of rank and distinction including Lord Charleville, were present. Source: Freeman’s Journal 3rd February, 1843 Co. Clare Ploughing match at Spancillhill 1847 Clare ploughing match came off on a field upon Col. Wyndhams Spancilhill Model Farm on Saturday last. Eight well appointed ploughs started on the occasion. The work was in general very well done considering the hardness of the ground owing to the pervious dry weather. The ploughs were chiefly Barrowmans and although the stiffness of the ground was against them a few did their work very well in raising an arise on the furrow slice. The judges were James Buncragg and James Johnston. The men and horses had a refreshment when half done and again when they finished their work. The day being fine a number of spectators were in attendance among them a large number of gentlemen and a few ladies. Source: The Limerick Chronicle 19th March 1947 Co. Clare Ploughing match at Ballycar 1873 An important trial of double furrow and other plough is to take place tomorrow afternoon on one of the fields of Major Studdert, near Ballycar Station. The arrangements are under the supervision of Messrs J. and G. Boyd, agricultural implement agents from Limerick and under such auspices, may be confidently expected to give satisfaction. It is not often the farmers of the county have such an opportunity of testing practically the merits of the various ploughs offered for their selection and, should the weather prove propitious it will no doubt be largely availed of. Source: The Clare Journal 12th February 1873 Compiled by Fred Bourke Bridgetown Fairs A patent was granted in 1745 to John Brown of Clonboy House, to hold fairs at Bridgetown, on May 30 and 31, and November 3 and 4. By mid 19th century these dates had been changed to June 10 and November 25. The number of fairs held annually had increased to four by the end of the century. On the morning of the November fair of 1866, William Steel Studdert, who had leased the Clonboy estate from the Browns, entertained about thirty gentlemen for breakfast. It was a substantial meal, consisting of ham, fowl, eggs, beef and mutton and tea, coffee bread and butter. Mrs. Studdert, with true Irish hospitality, presided at the table. This early morning meal proved so popular with the visiting gentry that the Limerick Chronicle of 13 June 1868 reported that nearly two hundred were served breakfast on the morning of the June fair of that year. A weighbridge was essential at fairs and markets and tolls could not be collected unless a weighbridge was provided. Inspectors of weights and measures regularly inspected these weighbridges and stamped the weights. Ernest Brown of Clonboy House erected a weighbridge at the Bridgetown Green, in the early years of the 20th Century. In later years James O’Sullivan was in charge of operating the weighbridge. It was removed in May 1978. Saturday was market day at Bridgetown. Tolls: The patentee of Bridgetown tolls was the Brown family of Clonboy. The Tolls of the Bridgetown fairs in later times were leased to the Quinlivan family at £30 a year. John Quinlivan got the tolls for 21 years lease, at the yearly rent of £20 in 1836, and had it renewed in 1856 on the same terms. His son John was the toll collector until the 1920’s. in 1920, an effort was mad to collect tolls on all animals, at entry to the fairs. Naturally this move was much resented by the farmers. The dispute continued for about two years. Finally, a deputation from the Bridgetown branch of the Irish Farmers Union called on Ernest Brown and an amicable settlement was reached. In April 1922, Brown, the patentee, and John Quinlivan, clerk of fairs, issued a notice to the effect that henceforth tolls would be collected on purchased cattle only, as in the old system. Paddy Quinlivan was the last toll collector at Bridgetown. The above information on the Fairs of Bridgtown was taken from “The Killaloe Anthology” by Sean Kierse Published 2001. Bridgetown Co-op Creamery Ltd. 1913 - 2013 A century of success Researched and complied by Freddie Bourke Photograph and typesetting by Caitríona Bourke Ernest Brown Founding Member Born in st Mount Brown near Ballingarry, Co. Limerick in 1864. Ernest educated at Trinity College Dublin. When his father died in 1907, he inherited the Clonboy Estate as well as other lands at Ballynagown, Lisnagry. In 1907 he described himself as a farmer of about 2,000 acres. The Clonboy estate consisted of 893 acres. Ernest Brown was loved and respected by his Tenants. He was a strong supporter of the co-operative movement founded by Horace Plunkett, a founder member of the Irish Famers Federation and he attended the Landlords convention of 1902. Ernest Brown backed the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and during the WW1 served with the British Army in East Germany and East Africa. Ernest Brown died 19^th October 1942 and was buried in the family vault in Killaloe Cathedral graveyard. His memorial tablet in the Cathedral, quote the following verse from the Book of Proverbs: A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches And loving favour rather than silver and gold. The rich and the poor meet together The Lord is the maker of them all. Centenary souvenir brass plat A list of Early Suppliers 1. John Whelan, Leitrim 2. Mike Flannery, Ardnatagle 3. Jack Aherne, Mountpelier 4. Jack Wolfe, Bridgetown 5. Paddy Shallooe, Leitrim 6. Peter Nihill, Ballynevin 7. Pa Joe Nihill, Cloncloher 8. William Ryan (The Bait), Monaglee 9. Danny Hayes, Knockadeern 10. John Moynihan, Monaglee 11. Mullins (Tommy Conlon), Ardnatagle 12. Michael Vaughan, Ross A list of Committee Members Patrick (Brud) Skeehan John Bolton Jack Aherne, Mountpelier John Skeehan, Ballynevin Mat Kelly, Knockadeern James Pearse, Cappakea Jack Hayes (The Boss Man), Leitrim Michael Moloney, Ballynevin Early Chairpersons William Walsh, Lacaerigh Jack Wolfe, Bridgetown Michael Vaughan, Ross Jimmy Ryan, Lower Park Creamery Managers Gleeson, Ballyhayne, Birdhill Gerry Lyons, Maurice Barry Above lists contributed by Johnny Skeehan, Ballynevin. Dairy and Butter Markets before 1913 Prior to the establishment of the creamery Industry a well organized trading system for butter had developed. Famers sold their butter to dealers at the Limerick Butter and Milk Market on Saturdays. The measure used to contain the butter was called a firkin and in terms of capacity contained about 70 Ibs of butter. In the late autumn and Winter many producers hadn’t sufficient butter to fill one firkin and in this case neighbouring famers jointly produced the firkin for market. The main local market would have been the weekly Saturday Limerick Butter and Milk Market August 1889 Limerick Chronicle At the Limerick Butter Market on Saturday the numbers of firkins exhibited for sale exceeded 2,500. Prices ranged from 58s to 62s per firkin. The main buyers were O’Hallorans Ennis, Messrs Russell Limerick, Messrs Tobin Tipperary, Matthews Limerick and Reidys Cork. The main butter buyer in the Limerick area was an English company Pearsons and Rutter who traded under the name Matthews. The company had a factory at Mulgrave Street Limerick. When the butter reached the factory at Mulgrave Street it was cleaned washed sorted and graded, packed in 56 pound butter boxes and held in cold storage until the day of export. Their main market was London and Industrial parts of Northern England. The Traveling Creamery A travelling creamery operated in Clonlara and Truagh in the 1950’s. Several travelling creameries processed milk from hundreds of suppliers all over Clare. The Creamery manager at each stop would take in the milk, weigh and sample before sending it through to the separator which was powered by the Lorries engine. The cream was stored in milk cans for transportation back to central depot. By the late 1950’s travelling creameries were finally taken off the road due to compulsory pasteurization. Suppliers then turned to their nearest creamery mainly Parteen and Bridgetown. The Creamery Lorry National portable milking machine purchased in 1960 from Loughman Dairy Equipment Shop at Nicholas St. Limerick. Price including a spare glass jar £142. A rare Diabolo Rotary Churn Through the decades milk suppliers of Bridgetown Creamery gave annual contributions of butter to the Franciscans. The annual visit from this religious order was usually at harvest time when farmers were more than generous. The creamery manager and suppliers were rewarded with prayers, and masses were offered for their intentions. The Religious order did not collect the butter but instead accepted a cheque from management to its value. This butter donation by milk suppliers was a practice carried out throughout the Diocese of Killaloe and continued until 1980’s. Dairy butter scoop The fertilizer was taken from the boat at Limerick docks and loaded onto lorries by winch and manually unloaded at farmyards and Creamery stores. In the early years slag came packed in 2 cwt jute bags, containing a few layers of black dust as a result one would finish the day looking as if you were a black man. Conclusion Since the establishment of the Bridgetown Co-op in 1913 we have seen change in rural life. Everyone living in Bridgetown has only to look about to notice great difference. Rural population has declined; we read in local newspapers the closure of pubs, shops and post offices in rural villages. In many parishes the local creamery has been abandoned or demolished and replaced by lorry and driver, far from the days of the queue where so many delivered milk in tankards by horse and cart. Over the last century nearly every household in the Bridgetown area has benefited from the Co-op. Monies earned from selling milk to the Co-op enabled them to purchase their first motor car, tractor or improve their holdings. The opening of the first agricultural store in the 1960’s was another venture contributed to the progress and improvements on many farms. I’m glad to say continues to this day. Responsible for a lot of change was the arrival of rural electrification in 1959. This made working conditions in the farm more favourable and allowed more profitable enterprises to be expanded. Entry into the EEC in 1973 offered new market, outlets for our agricultural commodities and guaranteed prices. In the late 70’s Bridgetown Co-op was amalgamated with Nenagh Co-op later to become Arrabawn. We have seen Europe introduce the Common Agricultural Policy and Reforms such as milk quotas in 1984, McSharry Reform 1992 and now abolishment of milk quotas in 2015. In conclusion dairying since the foundation of Bridgetown Co-op Creamery Ltd has proven to be a valuable and rewarding source of income. As we move along the decades it seems to be the most likely type of farming to be involved in, monthly income is predictable, there’s a future for those who remain with it. Farming can be described as a vocation so dairy farmers encourage your heirs to remain with dairying. Victorian Butter stamp The above information was researched and complied by Freddie Bourke, and appeared in the 2013 Show Catalogue as part of the Arrabawn Co-op Bridgetown Branch Centenary Year 1913-2013 Taken on Maurice Barry’s last day at Bridgetown Creamery - 1992 L-R - Jimmy Ryan (Kilbane), John Nolan (Bridgetown), Jackie Skehan (Ballynevin), James Pearse (Cappakee), Michael Moloney (Ballynevin), Maurice Barry, Kathleen Barry, Jack Balton (Fahy), Mickey Larkin (Cloncloher).
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