Denis O'Donnell facts for kids
Denis O'Donnell (born May 28, 1875 – died June 16, 1933) was a well-known businessman in County Kerry, Ireland, in the early 1900s. He was the main organizer and co-founder of the Lee Strand Cooperative Creamery. He became its first manager, using his experience and ideas from the cooperative movement led by Sir Horace Plunkett. This movement aimed to help Irish people become more self-sufficient.
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Early Life and Education
Denis O'Donnell was born in Tubrid, Ardfert, County Kerry. His parents were Patrick O'Donnell and Bridget Griffin. He grew up on a family farm in Tubrid. He also enjoyed writing poetry.
He went to national schools in Tubrid, Spa, and Chapeltown. Later, he studied at Ballyhaise College in County Cavan from 1908 to 1910. He was one of the first people to graduate from there with a Diploma in Dairy Science. This was the only qualification of its kind in Ireland at the time.
Denis married Hannah Leane. They had one son, Patrick Denis O'Donnell. Sadly, Denis died in an accident when his son Patrick was only 11 years old.
Building a Business
Starting Cremeries
Early in his career, Denis O'Donnell managed several small creameries. These included places in County Tipperary, Black Abbey in Adare, County Limerick, and Dicksgrove, Farranfore, and BallymcElligott in County Kerry.
He was inspired by Sir Horace Plunkett's cooperative movement. This movement helped farmers work together to improve their businesses. Sir Horace Plunkett founded the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society. This group helped create many creameries across Ireland.
Founding Lee Strand Creamery
Denis O'Donnell actively organized farmers in County Kerry to form their own cooperative. On April 30, 1920, he founded the Lee Strand Co-operative Creamery in Church Street, Tralee. This creamery is still in business today, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020! It moved to Ballymullen in 1992.
Denis O'Donnell was a true innovator. He was the first person in the area to introduce pasteurisation of milk. This process heats milk to kill harmful bacteria, making it safer. Many dairy farmers were unsure about this new idea at first. He was also the first to sell ice cream in Tralee.
Success and Recognition
Just a few years after it started, the Lee Strand Creamery achieved great success. In 1924, it won first and second prizes for creamery butter at the Listowel Show. Later, at the Cork Show, it won first, second, and third prizes in different categories, competing against 22 other creameries. The local newspaper, The Kerryman, congratulated Denis O'Donnell and his team for their hard work.
The 1925 Fire
On Friday, October 9, 1925, a fire broke out at the Lee Strand Creamery. It caused serious damage to the machinery. Luckily, local children playing nearby spotted sparks coming from the engine shed. They quickly alerted people.
Firefighters and police, along with local people, acted fast. They managed to stop the fire from spreading to the main building, which held valuable equipment and products. The engine shed, however, was badly damaged. Its machinery, including the gas plant, refrigerator, and steam engine, was destroyed.
The creamery had to close for a while and could not receive milk from farmers. Replacing the equipment cost a lot of money, but thankfully, the damage was covered by insurance. The fire was believed to be an accident, likely caused by a spark.
Community and Views
Supporting Farmers
Denis O'Donnell often wrote letters in the 1920s about how creameries should be managed. He discussed how some creameries could store butter in cold storage to wait for better prices. He also pushed for better quality Irish butter. He wanted farmers to know that people in England and Scotland valued Irish butter and paid good prices for it.
He worked to help farming communities. This was similar to his relative, Thomas O'Donnell, who was a Member of Parliament and fought for farmers' rights.
Love for Sports
Denis O'Donnell was a strong supporter of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). This organization promotes traditional Irish sports like Gaelic football and hurling. On September 22, 1929, the Kerry senior GAA football team won the All-Ireland Championship in Croke Park. Denis O'Donnell was excited about a victory celebration. He said, "I hope the banquet will be worthy and fitting for those splendid men who triumphed on the football field."
Independent Thinking
Denis O'Donnell was known for sharing his thoughts in letters to the local newspaper, The Kerryman. In 1925, when Archbishop Daniel Mannix of Melbourne was planning to visit Tralee, Denis O'Donnell wrote a letter. Archbishop Mannix was a controversial figure who had strong political views.
Denis O'Donnell questioned the Archbishop's intentions. He wanted to make sure the visit would promote unity in Ireland, not cause more division. He believed that leaders should encourage peace and bring people together. He hoped that if people "of all shades of opinion" took part, the visit could be "a real peace demonstration." He emphasized that if the Archbishop were "to foster or sanction disunion, such would be most objectionable." This showed Denis O'Donnell's independent spirit and his desire for national unity.
A Sense of Humor
Denis O'Donnell also had a good sense of humor. In one court case, he made people laugh when describing how a dispute was settled. He said that during the talks, "there was so much peace during all the deliberations that the words ‘good graces’ must have slipped in!"
He was once taken to court himself for unpaid income tax. However, the case was dismissed because the tax was owed by the person who lived in his house before him, not by Denis O'Donnell himself.
Images for kids
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Denis O'Donnell, founder of the Lee Strand Creamery
