The Butter Museum – Petrovici Delia
Ireland's grass-growing ability, combined with a dairying tradition, are natural advantages that make Ireland one of the foremost milk producers in the world. Can you imagine a museum with these products? Well, in Cork, Ireland you will find one about butter.
The Butter Museum is located in O’Connell Square, near the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, and housed in the former Butter Market. It is open on Sundays 11 am to 4 pm, and Mondays to Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission fees are 5€ for adults, 4€ for students/seniors, and 2€ for children (free for children under 12). You should allow an hour, at least, for the visit. The tour guides are exceptional, you should get one, they explain very well and make the tour not even close to being boring.
The Butter Museum visit is one of the more interesting things to do in Cork city. It grandstands the important role the butter exchange has played in Ireland over the centuries and displays the 19th-century worldwide Butter Trade, the household generation of butter, and the operations of the Kerrygold company.
When I visited the museum, I was surprised by the wrapper collection displayed on the wall. I was shocked when I found out that at that time designers weren’t recognized at all. Can you imagine your work not being acknowledged? I can’t. Another thing that I also enjoyed was the fact that you could stamp on paper one of the models of the wrappers. It takes you back to the time when everything was done manually, and I really liked the idea of it.
Overall, I would recommend visiting this museum. Personally, I think is worth your time and it doesn’t even last that long. It is very interesting, and you won’t be disappointed by it.
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Definitely St. Patrick – Petrovici Delia
Ireland is well-known for its celebration, Saint Patrick. Paddy’s Day, as it’s often referred to in this country, is a national holiday. Almost everyone gets the day off, and many Irish people treat the day as a religious celebration. But how much do we know about this holiday? In Cork, which is considered the real capital of the country by its people, this celebration turns this city green and traditions dominate.
Did you know that Saint Patrick lived during the fifth century? He was born in Roman Britain and was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave. Later, he escaped but returned to Ireland, bringing Christianity to its people. In the centuries that followed Patrick’s death, the mythology surrounding his life became more ingrained in the Irish culture. Since the 10th century, the people of Ireland have been observing this day on March 17. However, Ireland wasn’t the first country to celebrate St. Patrick, America being the one.
Interestingly, for this holiday people dress up in green and attend one of the hundreds of parades that are held throughout the day across the country. While I was in Cork, I didn’t have the opportunity to visit at this time of the year but I heard that they have the shortest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world. People also say that the rivers that cross this city turn green and that they have some interesting traditions, such as drowning the shamrock and looking for the leprechauns while enjoying a glass of Guinness.
Saint Patrick is one of the most important saints of the Catholic Church and you must admit that their feast day is one good luck charm. I would like to participate to one of the parades and visit Ireland at this time of the year.
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