VIDEO: Cows cared for in Irish prisons sent to Cork woman’s creamery in Africa

A Cork woman from a family of sporting legends is overseeing the construction of a creamery in Africa, supplied by cows cared for by convicted Irish criminals.

Aideen O’Leary, who is a sister of Munster star and former Irish rugby international Thomas O’Leary, and a daughter of Cork hurling legend Seánie O’Leary, said the people of Rwanda, ravaged by the 1994 genocide, refer to milk as “white gold” because of its rarity.

The creamery project is expected to be processing milk from Irish cows early next year, according to Ms O’Leary, who is a Bóthar representative in Rwanda.

Speaking at the creamery, which is waiting to be connected to an electricity supply, Ms O’Leary said: “A lot of the cows come here from Shelton Abbey open prison where the prisoners rear the calves and cows.

“It’s part of their training and reintegration programme.

“We really appreciate that they take really good care of the cows. When the cows get to us they are so docile which helps the farmers over here when they are learning to milk them.”

Bóthar is training farmers in Rusizi, Rwanda, in how to perform artificial insemination in their livestock, using semen from Irish bullocks.

The samples are taken from Irish-based livestock and flown to Africa before being conserved using liquid nitrogen at a clinic near the creamery.

The project’s ultimate aim is to set in train a dairy sector supplying African cities which have no access to a quality milk supply.

Locally, farmers will earn a profit from milk sales but will also be made shareholders of the creamery once it is set up next spring.

Rwanda has had a tragic recent history. In 1994, members of the Hutu ethnic majority murdered an estimated 800,000 people, mostly of the Tutsi minority.

“We have a very good partnership with the present government,” Ms O’Leary explained.

“It is now a very safe country and a very politically stable place, so we are confident, that in time, we will be able to walk away knowing the people will have a quality milk product, improved livelihoods, and education.”

The gift of a cow is a simple act but one, she said, which delivers more than just milk.

“Many of the women have been raped or infected with HIV, or have lost their husbands and children in the genocide. So, the cows are like a best friend. The people here talk to their cows.”

Launching their annual pre-Christmas appeal for donations, Bóthar corporate relations director Niamh Mulqueen said: “By supporting Bóthar’s Christmas appeal, you are helping to lift at least one family out of poverty.”

Donations to Bóthar’s project can be made to by contacting 1850-829999 or visiting www.bothar.org.