THE STORY
OF
ARRABAWN CO-OP
There was considerable conflict between milk processors in the Limerick-North Cork region at the time, regularly described as “milk wars�. Suppliers transferring milk led to frequent acrimonious battles, often splitting families. A round the clock blockade of Kantoher Creamery, near Newcastle West, by workers of the Golden Vale plant at Charleville over the acceptance by Kanother of former Golden Vale suppliers, which made national headlines was one of the most bitter. The local farmers were prevented from delivering their milk to the creamery in mid-summer by the picket mounted by some of their own family members who were employed at Golden Vale.
After the breaking up of Kantoher Co-op in 1991, Kerry Co-Op took over the majority of the suppliers with the exception of about twenty large milk producers who sought to supply Nenagh Co-op. The supply was attractive to Nenagh and agreement was reached on the purchase of the milk from the individual producers rather than from the group. Some anomalies between the payment in place in Kantoher and that in Nenagh were reconciled over a short period. Apart from a few who opted out of milk altogether, the remaining producers continue to be active suppliers to Nenagh for the past 22 years
184