Before the Bull Man in his black Anglia (AI, Artificial Insemination), Payment of Maid’s wages in part by her father allowed 10 services of employer’s Bull, A Day’s Hire or at Turf or Hay for Insemination, Underemployed Gardaí after Noxious Weeds, Dog Licences and Scrub Bulls.

AI came in c late 1940s before that few farmers could afford a bull the larger farmer kept one and allowed neighbours the use.  When a Miss Levis c 1920 went to work on the large Sweetnam farm in Caheragh part of her annual wages was her father being permitted to let his cows be bulled by her employer’s bull.

In the Durrus area the Shannons of Clashadoo (now Johnsons)had pedigree bull  often bought in Cork of a very high standard and the general understanding was that a day at hay or the use of a horse would be forthcoming.

Before 1970 the countryside was vastly over policed a legacy from the RIC.  In Kilcrohane there were two Garda, in Durrus a Sergeant and at times more than two.  In a period of little crime much time was spent prosecuting farmers for Buachallans (ragworth) or thistles, chasing people for not having dog licenses.  Bulls without a licence were a constant source of activity.  In the Bantry district one family had a bull kept in an enclosure ostensible a large hayrick in which the bull was sheltered with success over a number of raids.