ATHY 14/06/1941 – Bog Butter and the Sinking of the Bismarck
Leinster Leader: 14/06/1941
In South Kildare
Athy Bog Find
Workmen engaged on Skerries Bog, Athy, this week unearthed a lump of butter weighing about 10 stone. It was wrapped in cloth and was contained in a wicker basket. The butter was as hard as cheese. It is believed that it was buried in the bog at least 20 years ago. Its state of preservation, in view of this belief is astonishing.
Athy Boy in Historic Battle
Mr. David Murray, Ardreigh, Athy was a wireless operator on board the British warship Norfolk, while the vessel took part with other British naval units in the recent battle with the German Battleship Bismarc. He is a son of the late Mr. John Murray, Ardreigh, formerly a Lieutenant in the British Army, and is a nephew of Mrs. W. Neill, Foxhill, Athy. His brother John, while engaged as a wireless operator on board a British naval craft was killed last year when his ship was sunk by a German bomber off the Norwegian coast.
[Bimarc – Bismarck]
The South Kildare Notes in the Leinster Leader of June 1941 carried two interesting snippets relating to Athy; a find of bog butter near Skerries and a report of an Athy man involved in the British navy’s battle with the German Battleship Bismarck.
[compiled and edited by Mario Corrigan; typed and edited by Niamh McCabe; final edit by Dee O’Brien]
