The Creamery Stop 

The composer of this song goes under the pseudonym Valentia Bridge. In late 1960 into early 1961 the Caherciveen Group of Creameries owned by the Dairy Disposal Board closed the Ballinskelligs Creamery on the grounds that it was not financially viable to keep the depot open based on the low volume of milk it supplied to the group.  

In an article in the Irish Press dated 1st February 1961, the Secretary, Mr G.F. Robinson, of the recently formed Ballinskelligs Milk Suppliers Association stated that “One hundred and two farmers, members of the association, have decided not to deliver milk to any creamery in the area unless Ballinskelligs Creamery is reopened.” The association, it was added, has served notice to this effect. “They have demanded that the Ballinskelligs Creamery be re-instated within one month and that, meanwhile, the only stop in the area should be at that creamery,” the statement added.” A spokesman at the Caherciveen Creamery said that the reason for closing of the Ballinskelligs Creamery was that the milk supply in the area was below one hundred gallons a day and that it was physically impossible to work a depot on that quantity. He added that the system of cartage had already been accepted by all farmers in South Kerry as well as by half of the Ballinskelligs suppliers.

Source: Anonymous contributor (Binneas Collection), Molly Coffey (private Collection)

The Ballys are in the news of late

Since the creamery has closed down.

They must agree to cartage

Before May Day comes round.

They must say yes to cartage.

For time it will not wait.

So give the milk to Kelly,

Before it gets too late.

It was early in the Spring time

This little group set out.

To try and boycott Kehy

To prevent him from coming down.

The big bridge they surrounded

In Simca's and in Fords

With the Garda squad behind them

Caused detention use no force.

They selected Geoff the Englishman

To be their secretary

But owing to the ban on driving

He had to take the back seat to Tralee

To be told by Mr. Lawlor

That indeed they had no case

To go home and sign for cartage

Before they'd get disgraced.

They have interviewed all bodies

Whom they thought could give them aid,

T.D's and County Councillors

And one of the F.C.A.

But the Dairy Board has it all set

And sure they'll make no mistake.

They have sealed the plan for haulage

At the Lake Hotel debate.

Those Ballys are determined

And thought they'd have their way

To fight back the dear creamery

Something that did not pay.

If they checked upon the milk supply.

The profit and the loss.

They'd give the milk to Kelly

As they did at Barry's Cross.

The twentieth century farmers

are in for an awful clash,

When they have put the little women

down to the shurn ‘dash

If they don't agree to cart their milk

And stop this cat and mouse

I fear before next winter

They'll Boul into the rambling house.

No more will they meet east or west

At the creamery gates after dawn

To discuss the latest happenings

In the Congo or the North

For Kelly will be ready

And indeed he will not wait.

So pull the boat the Bally's

Before it gets too late.

Since the new-look stop at Barry's Cross

There is a note of thrill

For the heifers that once were bullocks

Are now milking up their fill

The herds declared free from Bovine T.B.

The tag shows on their ear

And thanks to insemination

Are producing four calves in the year.

So now fair play to cartage

All are content with skim

No more the Dungeagan Barrels

Will be floating from the brim

For to fatten up their banbhs

Their pigs and Kerry calves

So here's to Edward Mahony

Who has ironed out the clause.

So now the strike is ended

And so is the strange inquest

The last post is sounded

The auxiliary is laid to rest

The Glensters gave their verdict

And proved the law would spare

Those naughty Boys who slashed the tyre

The night of Shrove's Big Fair.

Signed: Valentia Bridge