The Butter Museum
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Make sure you know about live presentation date and time! During my recent visit to the Irish Butter Museum in Cork, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I learned about one of Ireland’s most iconic exports. The museum, located in the heart of Cork, offers a delightful and quirky insight into the history, culture, and craftsmanship behind Irish butter. From the moment I stepped in, the museum had a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with friendly staff eager to share their knowledge. The exhibits were well-curated and informative, covering everything from the ancient butter-making processes to the modern-day success of brands like Kerrygold. One of the highlights for me was seeing the traditional butter churns and learning about the complex process that turns milk into the golden product we know and love today. The museum is not overwhelmingly large, making it easy to explore at your own pace. There are also interactive displays that provide a hands-on learning experience, which I found particularly engaging. For anyone interested in Irish food culture or the country’s agricultural history, this museum is a hidden gem. I also enjoyed the small gift shop at the end, where you can purchase various butter-related products, from artisanal butters to themed souvenirs. Overall, I highly recommend visiting the Irish Butter Museum, especially if you’re in Cork and looking for something unique and educational. Whether you’re a food enthusiast, a history buff, or just curious, it offers a charming and informative experience.
oksana osiniene
00
The Butter Museum, located in Cork’s historic Shandon district, offers a fascinating look into Ireland’s butter-making heritage—from traditional methods to the global success of Kerrygold. Tickets: Adults: €5 | Students/Seniors: €4 | Children: €2 Kids under 12 go free with family Group rates available with prior booking Opening Hours: March–April & Nov: Wed–Sat 10:00–16:00, Sun 11:00–16:00 May–Oct: Mon–Sat 10:00–16:00, Sun 11:00–16:00 Dec–Feb: Sat & Sun only Bank Holiday Mondays: 11:00–16:00 Parking: No on-site parking, but street parking and public car parks are nearby. Use Cork’s parking app or discs for metered zones (approx. €2.50/hour). Facilities: Fully accessible with clean, modern toilets. Overall: A quirky, educational stop that showcases an important part of Irish culture. Great for families, tourists, and anyone curious about food history.
Karthik Radhakrishna
00
€5 entry fee. Downstairs was a hot mess. The video was informative but there was nothing interactive or super engaging. Most of the displays downstairs make you feel like you’re in a charity shop which is really disappointing because there is a lot to learn about the impact of butter on Cork and Ireland in general. The star of the show was the exhibits upstairs that really got into the history of butter including bog butter. There was is ton of opportunity for the subject and making the museum more engaging and interactive. I learned enough to justify the €5, but it left me wanting more, especially more info on bog butter!!!
Mariska Calabrese
00
NO SAMPLES. Don't get fooled by the great-looking website. This is not like the other cool places in Ireland like the Guinness Storehouse or Jameson distillery where you have several opportunities to taste the product. It is 2 levels of older butter making tools and information about butter over the centuries. The info itself is very interesting! But, after hearing about butter for 45 minutes you want at least a little soda bread with some Kerrygold... Still go to Cork, just don't go out of your way to get here (like I mistakenly did). Really cool tools and info though.
Audrie Hill
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I can not believe visitors would give this gem less than five stars. It's also a cool part of town, older and more like a neighborhood in 18th century Europe or Atlantic North America. The story of Irish butter is a love letter to government sponsored capitalism and a rebuttal to supporters of the more lassez faire variety. The historical placards were extremely interesting, for example residents of county mayo used to but the hand of a dead baby under the churn to ensure good luck! That's so goth! Wish they had more merchandise on offer!!!
Scott Pactor
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For €5 this is a brilliant museum about the history of butter making, including weird rituals they would do for good luck like put a dead child's hand under the churn, all the way to the present day how it exports to over 80 countries - we've all put a bit of Kerry Gold spread on our toast when staying at a B&B! The history of the roads, and the development of Cork harbour for ships sailing across the Atlantic taking supplies of butter (biggest in the world), salted meats, sailcloth (biggest in Europe), and gunpowder (biggest in Ireland).
Adventures By Alan
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Nearby Attractions Of The Butter Museum
Cork Opera House
Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral
The River Lee Hotel
Sin é
Elizabeth Fort
CoqBull
Crawford Art Gallery
Shandon Bells & Tower St Anne's Church
Costigan's Pub
Triskel Arts Centre

Cork Opera House
4.6
(1.4K)
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Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral
4.5
(1.3K)
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The River Lee Hotel
4.6
(1.2K)
Click for details

Sin é
4.7
(1.1K)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of The Butter Museum
Market Lane
Franciscan Well Brewery & Brewpub
The Imperial Hotel & SPA
The SpitJack Cork
The Crane Lane Theatre
Scoozi
Quinlans Seafood Bar Cork
Luigi Malones Cork
Rearden's Bar
Nosta Restaurant

Market Lane
4.6
(1.7K)
$$
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Franciscan Well Brewery & Brewpub
4.6
(1.5K)
Click for details

The Imperial Hotel & SPA
4.4
(1.5K)
Click for details

The SpitJack Cork
4.5
(1.3K)
$$
Click for details
Basic Info
Address
O'Connell Square, Shandon, Cork, Ireland
Map
Phone
+353 21 430 0600
Call
Website
thebuttermuseum.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.2
(434 reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
family friendly
accessibility
Description
The Cork Butter Museum is a museum in Cork city in Ireland which documents the history of butter production and sale in County Cork. It is housed in the former Cork Butter Market.
attractions: Cork Opera House, Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, The River Lee Hotel, Sin é, Elizabeth Fort, CoqBull, Crawford Art Gallery, Shandon Bells & Tower St Anne's Church, Costigan's Pub, Triskel Arts Centre, restaurants: Market Lane, Franciscan Well Brewery & Brewpub, The Imperial Hotel & SPA, The SpitJack Cork, The Crane Lane Theatre, Scoozi, Quinlans Seafood Bar Cork, Luigi Malones Cork, Rearden's Bar, Nosta Restaurant

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