Cork Butter Museum
The Cork Butter Museum honours the unique success of the butter trade in Irish history.
What happens in The Cork Butter Museum?
The museum first points out the importance of Irish milk production in the Middle Ages. Traditional butter-making equipment is displayed throughout the ground-floor gallery. An audio-visual presentation illustrates the development of the dairy industry since the early 1960s and the development of the industry in the 20th century.
The Museum features a gallery devoted to cattle and dairying in early Ireland.
Cows provided more than just butter and cheese in this society; they also served as a measure of wealth.
Another part of the exhibition looks at Cork and the city's huge influence in the 17th century butter trade on the Atlantic. The exhibition area of the Butter Museum features the barrels, typical of the way farmers would have brought their butter to the butter exchange. The development of the Cork Butter Exchange, Cork's international butter trade and the 'Butter Streets' are explored in a separate gallery. The Butter Museum is happy to answer questions about the development of the butter market, the butter trade, etc. from students and project participants.
Where is The Cork Butter Museum?
The Butter Museum can be reached within a 13-minute walk from the Imperial Hotel. Please follow the link below, for the exact route from the Imperial Hotel.
What are the Butter Museum opening times?
The opening times depend on the season.
March-May
Wed - Sat: 10am - 4pm
Sunday: 11am – 4pm
June-September
Open daily
Mon – Sat: 10am – 4pm
Sunday: 11am – 4pm
October – November
Wed – Sat: 10am – 4pm
Sundays: 11am – 4pm
What is the entrance fee?
Adults: €5.00
Senior/ Students: €4.00
Children: €2.00
For further information about the Cork Butter Museum, click here.