Visitor centre proposed for Birdhill creamery site

More than a century after it was first constructed to serve the farming community in the area, a former creamery may be about to give way to a completely new development on the site at Birdhill.

While the operation of the premises for the intake of milk from the local farms ceased more than three decades ago, the building continued to be a popular landmark on the former N7 through the village, the national winner of the SuperValu Tidy Town Contest in 2017, as well as numerous other national and international awards over the past three decades.

Following the sale of the creamery building and adjoining grounds, and later the nearby former post office, the future for the site has remained unclear for some years.

An application has now been lodged with Tipperary County Council for the development of the creamery site and the adjoining area of the former post office.

It has been proposed to construct a tourism initiative entitled ‘Lough Derg Welcome Centre’ on the sites. The development is planned to include an exhibition centre and offices, visitor experience, a café, retail area, an 18-hole putting course, kids play area with 43 car parking spaces and necessary ancillary facilities.

The due date for decision by the county council on the application is listed for the end of February.

The disused creamery has been developed into an eye-catching attraction, with two large murals painted on the building by local artist Anne Barry, depicting cows grazing contentedly beside a cottage, and a milkmaid churning butter in the traditional way.

Traditional 20-gallon milk churns outside the creamery door complete a picture which has not only caught the eyes of passers-by, but brought back memories of previous generations for local residents, the older of whom still hold memories of having delivered milk to the creamery.

At its peak, the roadside creamery took in the milk of 100 farmers, having been founded in 1914 with investment of £86 in share capital from the farmers.

The records show that the creamery had a profit for 1952 of £301.16s. 6d, and had accumulated retained profits of £1,596 7s 0d. Operation as a creamery ceased in the 1980s.

Some years later, the Post Office, on ground adjoining the creamery, ceased to operate and the premises was subsequently sold.