Before the coming into being of Wyndeham’s Land Act in the early 20th century it was common for farms to be let to Dairymen. The Dairyman would pay a fixed amount per cow and would have the use of the herd together with land to grow potatoes and corn. In this case the land was rented by the Philips family from the Earl of Bandon and comprised part of their holding. John Sullivan had been a dairyman in other locations in the area.
Dairy Agreement for Rusheeeninaska, Durrus, Phillips:Sullivan 18th January 1897.
West Cork History 
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This document is a terrific find.
Philips appears to be operating as a middleman between the nobleman and Dairyman Sullivan.
The Agreement appears to be very harsh. 100 Pounds is owed and the most the Dairyman can earn from selling his milk is the amount specified as “Dairy money” in the Agreement, regardless of market conditions. It seems likely that in an economic downturn Diarymen might find themselves permanently in debt under this kind of Agreement, renewed without substantial change from year to year, much like the U.S. “sharecropper” system.
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