Separated Milk Row at Slate Quarries Creamery
This article from the Kilkenny Moderator in 1899 informs us about how important the separated milk was to the poor people in Ireland. The only constituent of the milk that was used in the creameries was the butterfat with the separated milk returning to the farmers. It was used for feeding calves and pigs but it was also a great source of nutrition for people.
The following is a transcription from the Kilkenny Moderator in 1899 using the language of the time.
James Ryan summoned Patrick O Reilly, John Walsh, and Matthew Walsh on the charge of having waylaid him and murderously assaulted him on the 14th of October 1899.
Mr J.F.M. O Sullivan for complainant, and Mr. J.F. Quirk for defendants.
Mr. O Sullivan stated the facts. There was a creamery near the Slate Quarries, and until recently the poor people were in the habit of getting separated milk in small quantities from it. Mr. O Reilly is manager of the creamery, and either rightly or wrongly they blame O Reilly for getting their milk supply stopped of late. Ryan was one of the deputation who waited on Mr. Hughes, the manager of the quarries, to complain of their treatment by O Reilly, and since then his client had been subjected to annoyance. At half-past 10 o clock on the night of the 14th inst, when his client was passing along the road to Ahenny, the three defendants attacked him.
Mrs. Ryan, wife to complainant, swore that she saw her husband after the row; he had two bad cuts on the head; blood was flowing from the wounds; believed that O Reilly was that night drunk.
Complainant deposed to Mr. O Sullivan; on the night of the 14th had no drink taken; he was walking along the road very quick and was approaching the Victoria Bridge; when he came up he said “good night” and when attempting to pass O Reilly said “You are one of the fellows that would like to give me a clout”
To Colonel Evanson: O Reilly is manager of the creamery.
Examination continued: He said “I’ll get the best of you and the other fellows at Ahenny, as I have got the best of the milk;” passed on when John Walsh followed me and struck me on the back of the head with the stone: I ran as best I could up to Mrs. Powers door, and when I got there they caught me and O Reilly hit me on the head with a stick that knocked me; my wife heard me bawling and when she came up to my assistance O Reilly struck her on the breast, and knocked her kicking; only for Mrs. Power came out they would have killed me; the wounds on my head was dressed by the sergeant.
To Mr. Quirk: I did not try to grip Mr. O Reilly, but he accused me of shouldering up against him; a man named Nolan did not ask me for God’s sake to go on, that I was not in their company; the jostling took place near the bridge; the moon was shining brightly at the time; I swear again that Nolan did not ask me to go away, as I was not in their company; I was near James Walsh’s gate when I got the stroke of the stone; I ran then for my life; I am one of the deputation that went to Mr. Hughes, the manager of the quarries complaining that Mr. O Reilly would not give us any milk: I am not aware that one of the rules of the creamery is that all farmers sending milk to the creamery are entitled to get 80% of the milk back as separated milk.
To Colonel Evanson; the milk was stopped from all the poor people living there since Mr. O Reilly has become manager; my wife used to get some of the milk; I swear Mr. O Reilly struck me on the head with the stick, but I did not see him make the stroke: Matthew Walsh kicked me while I was on the ground.
Sergeant Lacy of the Royal Irish Constabulary deposed that he saw the three defendants that night ten minutes before the time of the alleged assault; all three were perfectly sober.
This closed the case for the complainant.
John Nolan, examined by Mr. Quirk, deposed-I live at Tinakilly; on the night of the 14th of October I was down at the circus at the Slate Quarries; Ryan overtook the defendants and myself; he came up to us at the Victoria Bridge, when he began jostling O Reilly, who resisted the conduct; said to Ryan for god’s sake go away, you are not in our company; he went on some 15 yards and called out ,”come on and I’ll do for the lot of you , specially O Reilly the English Protestant son of a b–;” he afterwards turned into the dyke, picked up two stones. He threw the two rocks down at us; one of them skimmed the rim of my hat, and the other nearly hit O Reilly.
William Henneberry (examined by Mr. Quirk;- Am a director of the Ahenny Creamery Company; there was a bad feeling against Mr. O Reilly over the stoppage of the milk amongst the poor. He corroborated the evidence of the last witness. He saw Ryan deliberately trying to trip Mr.O Reilly who resisted it; if Ryan wished to pass he had plenty of room; a coach and four could have passed between Ryan and us.
To Mr. O Sullivan- I had drink taken that night, but I was not drunk; I told him to go quietly home as his demeanour was very aggressive; I have no more sympathy with O Reilly than the others; I am here to tell the truth.
O Reilly (one of the defendants) made a statement as to what occurred. He said that Ryan kept continually jostling him until he resisted it; he then went on and turning; he flung two stones after Walsh; he ran and fell heavily on the ground; he then got up and made for Powers door; did not strike him with a stick nor did John Walsh strike him with a stone as far as he could see.
John Walsh made a similar statement.
The bench dismissed the case, Colonel Evanson stating that complainant brought all he received on himself, and that the defendants simply acted on the defensive.
The link below is for the butter museum in Cork, click here city, beside Shandon Bells. Cork butter market was the largest butter market in the world for much of the 19th century.
