This article is from page 32 of the 2007-11-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
THE clocks turned back in Kilmaley last week when residents of the local day care centre provided a hands on CCeaeyerieeclmCOembeMOlUlAKcsmpeeteD operon
Using an authentic butter churn the residents of Kilmaley Day Care Cen- tre relived an age-old practice much to the delight of students from Kil- maley National School.
The demonstration was organised by Clare Museum as part of its out- reach work in communities across the county.
According to Mr. John Rattigan, Curator, Clare Museum, “I brought a handling collection from the museum
to the daycare centre and tried to en- courage people to bring in artefacts from their own homes. Over the next couple of weeks we found that we had amassed most of the equipment needed to make homemade butter in the traditional way, and we decided to give it a go.”
He continued, “Most of the mater1- al is probably less than 50 years old, and I was told that the glass churn represented the height of fashion in 1950s Ireland.
Somebody else brought in the but- ter pats for shaping the butter and, more importantly, all brought in the knowledge of how to make butter.”
Clare Museum’s outreach pro-
gramme has been well received around the county since its concep- tion in early 2005.
During 2005 ands 2006, the clients of Ennistymon Hospital and Daycare Centre and Raheen Hospital and Daycare Centre were invited to take part in a reminiscence project called Preserving the Past for the Future.
Participants were invited to bring in family heirlooms, or objects that represented the lives or achievements of either themselves or their relatives, and to recall memories associated A Leem Ne ToOen
“None of the children present at the demonstration realised that but- ter was once made at home by their
erandparent’s generation’, explained Mary Ita Griffin, Manager of the Kilmaley Day Care Centre.
Ms. Griffin stated, ““The fascination of watching cream turn to golden but- ter proved to be an enjoyable learning experience for kids and adults alike. I would like to express my gratitude to Clare Museum, the children of Kilmaley National School and, most of all, everyone who attends Kilma- ley Day Care Centre for their enthu- siasm.”’