Cheese factory helps to save Co Antrim creamery from closure (1967)
Of the excellent cheeses being exported to England from the new factory at Ballynure, Co Antrim, of Antrim Creameries, Ltd, Mr W Fazakerley, managing director, had this to say during this week in July 1967: “It is a great tribute to the Antrim farmer for the high quality of the milk we are getting.”
Mr Fazakerley was speaking at the official opening of the factory by the Minister of Agriculture, Major J D Chichester-Clark.
Milk from the surrounding farms was collected and received by the Milk Marketing Board's Ballynure creamery next door and supplied to the cheese factory through a stainless steel pipeline - 5,000 gallons a day.
NEW LEASE OF LIFE
And so the Ballynure creamery, which had been threatened with having to close down, and the cheese factory were now joined together “like Siamese twins”, sharing all the essential services.
Mr J K Lynn, board chairman, said, added: “Unlike Siamese twins we shall not, I think, have any desire to be separated in the future.”
The factory, he said, had provided a solution to “the Ballynure problem” - the possible closure of the factory.
Mr Lynn said that the board's little creamery at Ballynure had been built in the war period in order to facilitate the movement of liquid milk to Great Britain. Afterwards it had been used by the board as “a buffer centre for the Belfast liquid milk market”, with supplies being switched either into Belfast dairies or to distant manufacturing units depending upon market requirements.
IDEAL LOCATION
Sadly, over the years, however, Ballynure Creamery had become “less and less necessary” and from time to time the possibility of closing it had been discussed.
Mr Lynn added that it was fortunate, however, that they did not take that step for in July 1967 Ballynure had provided the ideal location for “this attractive project” - “first-class milk supply, proximity to the port of Lame; adjacent building ground, and the opportunity to share services in a unique way”.
Thus the project was expected to help improve the economy of the boards own creamery organisation which was very important to them.
In addition to the stainless steel pipeline, water and steam for both plants are obtained from the same source and the modern effluent plant also serves both factories
EXPORTS TO ENGLAND
The whole of the cheese from the factory was being despatched to England, but before long it was anticipated that Ballynure cheeses would be on sale on the Northern Ireland market.
The product of the Ballynure factory was to be be English Territorial cheeses which were at that time manufactured in Northern Ireland.
Farming Life noted: “At present Lancashire, Leicester and Double Gloucester cheeses are being made and this range will be extended later to include Wensleydale, Caerphilly and others.
“These manufacturing developments are of great significance for Ulster's milk producers in that milk for Territorial cheeses realises a better price than that for traditional Cheddar and Cheshire types.”
VERY IMPRESSED
Major Chichester-Clark, who toured the factory, said he that he was very impressed by the enterprise.
“In Northern Ireland we are very bad cheese eaters,” the Minister of Agriculture said.
“I hope this new factory will give a fillip to the industry and a fillip to the sales of Ulster cheese.”
Referring to the production of the different cheeses, including Double Gloucester, the minister hoped that the expanding range might include “Treble Antrim”.
Mr Fazakerley thanked the Milk Marketing for their co-operation in establishing the factory.
He also paid a tribute to the help of the workers.
Mr J Inglis, chairman of Antrim Creameries Ltd, welcomed the guests and also paid a tribute to the Milk Marketing Board for their co-operation.