“This is the story of innocent days in the life of a small community, in the days before affluence and television, a community who worked hard, made their own entertainment and generally accepted the hardships of life.

Lower Dripsey was and still is a small community. It does have its own distinct identity to Upper Dripsey. In fact that identity is established and reflected in the signs just past Inniscarra Waterworks on the Cork-Dripsey Road. The local placenames in Lower Dripsey on the north bank of the River Lee or Inniscarra Reservoir are pre-Norman or pre Old English colonisation. Dripsey – An Druibseach – the muddy river, still evident when the river is in flood, Agharinagh or Achadh Rianach, which means Rianach’s field. Magoola is named after the Maighe Ghuaile clan who inhabited the area, Innislinga means Ling’s inch, an inch being a flat field by a river and the townland of Faha, which means a flat field.

At one time, Lower Dripsey had a R.I.C barracks, the Williams Shop (see next week), Barrys Public House (later Murphys and known as the ‘long house’) and the creamery. The Murphy family of Douglas Woollen Mills opened the first creamery in Lower Dripsey in 1934. Denis O Leary from Lackaneen, Clondrohid was manager until 1962.  Denis qualified in 1926 and completed his training in Killowen creamery, Bandon. He subsequently worked at various creameries in the Macroom area. He was affectionately known as “the Manager”. As a result of his position in the community, he had a great knowledge of events in the wider world of County Cork talking to his many clients. People came to him for advice and Denis, on many an occasion, assisted the local community in their endeavours. Mick Roche was the manager until the creamery closed in 1972.

The creamery was steam powered. Ned Ring, who had his own steam engine and thresher was the boilerman. Jack Healy Berrings took over that position in 1952 (until 1972 when the creamery closed). A Blackstone engine was also used. It was restored by John Carroll and exhibited at local steam rallies. The creamery yard was a colourful place every morning - horses and carts of the fifty suppliers as well as tractors and trailers of the 1950s style. Milk was bought by the creamery at 1s 4d per gallon (9 cent in 2007) in the 1950s. Today, approximately ten suppliers have survived in the wider catchment area and tankers, operated by Dairygold, collect the milk.

The 5 cwt van was the versatile mode of transport of the 1950s, taking churns to the creamery, families to Mass on Sunday and bonhams and young calves to Coachford fair. One local van used so often for maternity purposes became known as the ‘ambulance’.

In 1941, the creamery was taken over by the Newmarket Dairies. The O’Leary family opened their shop selling groceries and hardware in 1938 and closed in 1991. Butter cost 2s 8d (17c in 2007) and ration was 1s 10d (E1.60 in 2007). Social life changed with the seasons. In winter, Miss Murphy’s shop behind the creamery was a popular haunt for a game of rings and a game of cards. Many an amusing incident took place when locals gathered in local man Thade Joe Burn’s house. Summer saw open air dancing at the platform next to the creamery. Bowl playing was played on the Magoola road. Tim Murphy, Magoola, was the expert bowler - many from other counties working at the Lee Scheme, enthusiastically joined in. In the creamery yard, games such as handball and pitch and toss were played. Swimming in the Lee near Fitzgibbon Bridge was a popular pastime on summer evenings.