Clogga Creamery

The decision to open a branch of Piltown Co-operative Creamery at Clogga, in the Mooncoin district, was prompted by competition. Carrigeen creamery could take suppliers from the lower end of Piltown, adjoining Turkstown and suppliers from the townlands of Cloncunny, Graigavine, Kilnaspic, Nicholastown, and Clonmore. The greater the number of suppliers the greater the milk suppliers, the greater the milk supply, which then translates itself in butter sales and sale of feedstuffs. Located in the vicinity of Clogga mill, a private concern, owned by the MacDonald family, the creamery was ideally located to gain business. It separated the cream from the milk. The cream was then transported to Piltown creamery for butter making.

Click on pictures to enlarge:

J. Hearne & J. Kinsella(1950-60's)	Creamery	Creamery	Creamery

The building is made from native sandstone and red brick around the windows. Clogga stands unused now. It closed in the late eighties. In its day it was a hive of activity in the hinterland of family farms. In the latter years of its existence its main function was that of a store which sold animal foods. It also had a telephone which the local people could use.

Managers of Clogga Creamery:
Andy Wall, John Murphy, Mick Sheehan, John Duggan of Templeorum, John Murray, Dick McGrath, Stephan O' Connor and William Drennan.

The employees were John Kinsella, who started working in creamery in March 1943 and continued for 26 years until his retirement in 1968, John Murphy and John Walsh.

In July 1924 Clogga had 105 milk suppliers. The price per gallon was ranged from 6.75d to 7.35d. The average sums of money owed by individual suppliers from £7 2s 4d, to £67 10s 7d.

Clogga had 123 milk suppliers in 1932. The number remains stable at 122 suppliers in 1976. Not every farmer had the bulk tank in 1976. The 10 gallon silver aluminium churns and the cicular bulk tank behind the tractor or car, was a farmiliar sight at the creamery in the 1970's. Milk transported by tractor and by car in the 1960's, replaced the pony, horse or donkey drawn car of the five decades previously. From the late 1980's the bulk tank in the farmers yard eliminated milk collection at the creamery, thus ending a good way of life in rural Ireland.

In July 1924, Clogga creamery had 114 suppliers, drawn from the townslands of Riverquater, Emil, Cloncunny, Cashel, Tobernabrone, Lickawn, Dowling, Tubrid, Barabehy, Knockanure, Barnacole, Clogga, Cloneen, Barronswood, Coolfraheen, Ardera, Kilcraggin, Ballytarsney, Grange, Silverspring, Affady, Nicholastown, Gragavine and Ballynaboley.