#26 Our Emerald Isle: Maple Hill Cheese Factory- Irish Cheese History
The Maple Hill Cheese Factory, here in the Town of Erin, still exits, but as a home. The trustees of the cheese factory leased land located at the southeast corner of the Hwy. K and Hwy. E intersection from the 120 acre Radke (Radkie in 1892 Plat Book) farm. It was in operation 1890 to 1936. In 1944 it became known as Zehloff's Tavern and more recently a home.
Cais is an ancient term and the Irish word for cheese. Although a variety of handmade cheeses had been made, little was by the end of the 17th century, and "the art of Irish farmstead cheesemaking effectively disappeared at the end of the 18th century . . . and vanished as a staple of the Irish diet." The potato, introduced to Ireland between 1586 and 1600, had taken its place. Then in 1976 began the modern Irish farmstead cheese revolution with Veronica and Norman Steele on the rugged Beara Peninsula in west County Cork. She made variations of cheddar and soon switched to a softer cheese she called Milleens.