Drombane Co-Op has survived test of time despite many changes says chair John O'Dwyer

John O’Dwyer is chairman of the Co-Op in Drombane since 2021 and he followed on from George Bourke who had completed his term of office. Like many in Drombane, John has lifelong involvement with the Co-Op: “I'm delighted to be part of Drombane Co-Op for a long number of years. I remember going to the creamery in Turraheen when it was a branch belonging to Drombane as well as Pallas. That was back when the milk churns were there.

“In its day, Drombane had about 250 suppliers which has whittled back down to close on 50 now, but, of course, there is a lot more milk. Herds have got bigger and when quotas were introduced around 1983 there was an incentive from the EU and the Government for smaller producers to pull out so a lot did.

“My memories of going to the creamery back then are fond ones. You were delighted to be sent to the creamery and I went in a small tractor that you didn’t want any air conditioning in!

“I hauled milk with a tractor and trailer. I always had interest in Drombane Co-Op and when an opportunity came to join the board after my father’s retirement I was delighted to be brought onto the board. My father had the honour of being chairman at the time the Co-Op celebrated its 100th anniversary and it is a coincidence that I’m in the chair for the 125th anniversary. That’s the way it happened and I remember the 100th celebration in 1997.

“There is a lot of them gone since, like John Cooke, Tommy Butler and there has been some retirements like Willie Leamy, Ned Fogarty, Ned Lowry, Bridget Murphy, John Joe Bourke and Pat O'Connor who was the general manager at that time.”

Over the years John has seen many changes in farming practices and in rural life in general. For him things have sped up a lot. “The pace of farming has really gone up a few gears. Everything is on a larger scale and maybe a lot of them are working on their own too. A lot miss going to the creamery and meeting people. The Co-op is there to serve and move with the times as well. Different items are sold now than before - but there was always a store here for nuts and bolts and different things. 

“The old building is gone but the new building was opened around 1997 and it was a great addition. The new grocery store was given great consideration by the committee and these things don’t happen overnight. We have a good working committee and we gave it good consideration and it has proved to be a success.

“The creamery always played a part in the lives of rural people. It was a great meeting point for many years. Long ago, deaths and matches were all thrashed out at the creamery. Everyone brought home a bit of news.

“It is a part of rural Ireland that is gone in many areas as farmers are working on their own a lot now. I know they are in touch with the outside world through technology but they can miss the chat from time to time.

“The bulk tank on the farm gradually changed the work pattern. I remember butter making going on here in the 1970s and Drombane butter was a big industry and won lots of prizes in the RDS in its time,” the chairman says.

As with any business that survives the test of time, Drombane Co-Op has, at its core, staff that really care about what they do, says John: “Drombane has been blessed with great staff and mostly local staff that have as much interest in the place as any management always and ever.

“We have been lucky that way and they treat the customers with respect and that is very important as well. Things are doing fine and we won't ever go too wild but it is a great achievement to be still here after 125 or so years and the intention is to be here for another good while yet.”