About The Butter Museum

The Butter Museum is a unique institution, celebrating one of the great success stories of Ireland, the butter trade. Located in the historic Shandon area of Cork city, the story begins with the central role of dairy culture in the Island of Saints and Scholars. The Museum goes on to describe the internationally important Butter Exchange in nineteenth century Cork, the traditional craft of home butter making and the modern success of the Kerrygold brand. In the course of this story, the commercial, social, and domestic life of Ireland is recalled.

Buy Tickets

The wrapper collection at The Butter Museum, Cork,

A wall for Joseph and Oliver, The Butter Museum Cork

Cork and the

Butter Exchange

This part of the Museum deals with the development of Cork as a city trading on the Atlantic in the 1700’s and the development of the Cork Butter Exchange, which became the largest butter market in the world.

Seen here is a firkin or barrel, typical of the type in which farmers would have brought their butter to the Butter Exchange. The development of the Cork Butter Exchange, Cork’s international trade in butter, and the ‘butter roads’ are examined in a separate gallery. The Butter Museum is happy to answer any queries in relation to the development of the Cork Butter Market, the butter trade etc. from students and those involved in project work. A full educational service is available to schools.

The Butter Exchange