Our Story
A tradition kept alive in the heart of Co. Mayo since 1990
Where it all began
Cuinneog — the Irish word for a butter churn — was founded in 1990 by Tom and Sheila Butler at their home in Shraheens, Balla, Co. Mayo. What started as a small family operation in their kitchen, using a wooden churn and old family recipes, set out to bring a genuine taste of traditional Irish dairy to a wider market.
Originally trading as Sheila's of Mayo, the business later rebranded to Cuinneog — a name that speaks directly to the craft at its heart and the proud tradition behind it.
Two thousand years of tradition
The methods used at Cuinneog date back over 2,000 years. The distinguishing step is the fermentation of the cream before it is churned — a process that gives the butter and buttermilk a unique, rich flavour that no commercial method can replicate. We nurture our live culture every single day, just as it deserves.
Good things take time. Our buttermilk is left to ferment slowly at a natural temperature for many hours, allowing the flavour to develop fully and the natural probiotic cultures to flourish.
Today's Cuinneog
Now managed by Breda Butler, Cuinneog has grown from a small family kitchen into a nationally recognised artisan brand, supplying major Irish retailers including SuperValu, Dunnes Stores, Tesco, and Centra. The butter earned 3 Gold Stars at the Great Taste Awards in 2015, was listed in the Top 50 Foods, and was served at the State Banquet for Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Ireland in 2011.
We believe in honest food — made simply, made locally, and made with real care. No shortcuts, no additives. Just pure, traditional Irish dairy the way it was always meant to taste.
Est. 1990
Shraheens, Balla, Co. Mayo
All natural
No additives or preservatives
Award winning
Great Taste Awards 2015