A special time in Drombane Co-Op as 125 years of business is celebrated on Saturday

Drombane Co-Op celebrates a special milestone this year as the mid Tipperary business celebrates its 125th year.  Over the years the business grew and changed to provide for its customers who travel near and far to Drombane.

Next Saturday there will be a huge celebration at the co-op as they celebrate their anniversary with lunch and a family fun day from 1pm. All are welcome to attend what is sure to be a memorable day out. 

Over the years the facility has grown and adapted to the needs of its customers. In recent times, and to coincide with this special anniversary, Drombane Co-Op opened a new grocery shop which caters for the needs of the local community. 

Led by locally-based CEO Michael Bourke, the Co-op has gone from strength to strength in recent years and has changed and adapted in order to survive and thrive. When one enters the premises they are always greeted by genuine staff who always look after the customer.

Liam Leamy has worked in the co-op since 2008 and his father, Willie, worked there for many years before him which leads a family feel to the business as it serves the local community. For Liam Leamy, the Co-op is part of daily life: “It is a lovely place to work. A nice environment and there are lovely customers here. You couldn't meet nicer people.

“It is a very busy spot here all year round. Springtime would be very busy with calving and fencing and then its into silage time and on to feeding time so it is great as we enjoy it all. I have been here as far back as I can remember.

“When my father worked here I remember going with him in the lorry and it is great to see it continuing going. I remember our 100th anniversary, cycling over here that day. The place was packed. I’m sure it will be the same now for our 125th celebrations, too,” he said.

Cathal Gill, who also works in Drombane, says it is a fabulous place to work. “It is lovely here. I haven’t worked anywhere like it before as everyone is so friendly and it is very community based,” he said.

Drombane Co-operative Agricultural and Dairy Society Ltd celebrated their one hundredth year in June 1997 and this year’s 125 celebrations were put back a year owing to the recent pandemic. This is a time to remember and a time to reflect.

Down the years many have toiled and laughed while at work and many generations of customers passed through the gates in Drombane. Enginemen as well as buttermakers and carters were all essential roles down the years. The first recorded buttermaker in Drombane was Miss Mulcahy before Minnie Leamy was appointed in 1904.

Since then that trade has faded but new roles and responsibilities have arisen. Willie Ryan Coolbawn was the first to own a lorry in the area and worked on contract for the creamery before 1945 when the creamery bought a lorry of its own. Many, such as Tom Grant of Dromore and Paddy Gleeson from Roskeen, also sat by the wheel. Ned Fogarty, Tommy Ryan (C) and Willie Leamy too served their time. 

There have been many managers too down the years and each has steered the business in a steady way. Hugh P Ryan, a famed GAA man of wide experience, was the first manager back in 1897 before William Crosse took over in May 1919. Ireland changed through the years but Drombane Co-Op still served the people.

In 1933, John Lanigan, a native of Gortnahoe, took over as creamery manager. A keen GAA enthusiast, he founded a hurling team in Killenaule during his time there. When he moved to Drombane he served for decades until his retirement in 1970 before his sudden passing at the Munster hurling final in Killarney in 1971. He is buried across the road from the old creamery, in Kilvalure cemetery. 

Pat O’Connell from Horse and Jockey took up the reins then, and the Dairy Science graduate from UCC, again moved with the times setting up new offices and stores in Drombane. Pat retired in 2009 when Michael Bourke - who is a former chairman of Tipperary GAA - took up the reins, and today he continues to steer Drombane into the future as CEO of a thriving rural business.

It is one that has survived a civil war,  two world wars, an economic war, global stock market crashes and a worldwide pandemic. Drombane Co-Op is still standing tall and celebrates the 125th anniversary of being in business next Saturday.
A day to be enjoyed. Festivities begin in the early afternoon with lunch and a family fun day from 1pm. All are welcome.