Discussion with master Cooper Killian O'Mahony and Kate Ryan ( flavour.ie) with ISL interpretation.

The Old Butter Roads Festival Event

Food & “White Coopering” in Ireland

Join us for a fascinating conversation exploring food, traditional household vessels and the craft of white coopering in Ireland.

Interest in traditional food skills, such as butter churning, has seen a renewed and growing demand for handmade butter churns. The makers of these, along with other household vessels such as pails, tankards and noggins, were known as white coopers — skilled craftspeople who were once an essential part of everyday life in towns and villages throughout Ireland.

In conversation with Kate Ryan of Flavour.ie, Killian will share stories of coopering past, present and future. Together, they will explore the relationship between wooden vessels, food traditions and everyday life, and consider how bringing coopered vessels back into our homes might reconnect us with food skills — both traditional and boundary-pushing.

This is an opportunity to discover more about a remarkable Irish craft, the people who practised it, and its potential place in contemporary food culture.

The discussion will include Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

ISL Interpreter: Suzanna Carey

All are welcome.

Description supplied by the event organiser.