At the turn of the 19th century butter was the main cash crop. The story is told of women from Kilcrohane walking barefoot to Cork, with a pannier of butter wrapped in cabbage leaves.  10 miles before Cork they stopped at a particular rock and put on boots.  Father Kelleher’s evidence to the Poor Law Commission tells of girls making 12 journeys a year to Cork with large baskets of eggs making around £3 a year. 

Father Kelleher:


Rev. John Kelleher, C.C. Trained in Rome. 28 Jan 1830, anti tithe agitation.  Noted statistician. Later c 1840 Parish Priest of Kilurray, at British Association meeting gave detailed paper on condition in Kilmurray parish later published by British Association.

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