There as soon as was a cow named Massive Bertha who drank whiskey, lived till she was 48, had 39 calves, broke two Guinness World Data and raised $75,000 for most cancers analysis.
Massive Bertha, a cow owned by a person named Jerome O’Leary, who lived in Sneem, County Kerry, Eire, certainly lived to the age of 48 and birthed 39 calves, setting two Guinness World Data. There’s proof that Massive Bertha helped increase vital funds for most cancers analysis by way of public appearances and charity occasions. Nevertheless …
… we had been unable to independently confirm the precise sum Bertha helped increase, nor had been we in a position to confirm the declare the cow drank whiskey, because it depends solely on O’Leary’s account, with no impartial sources or corroborating proof.
For years, a narrative spread on social media that there as soon as was a cow named Massive Bertha who drank whiskey, lived till she was 48, had 39 calves, broke two Guinness World Data and raised $75,000 for most cancers analysis.
(Instagram person @how.classic)
The declare unfold on quite a few social media platforms, together with 9GAG, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, iFunny, and Facebook. “When the cow has extra achievements than me,” one Fb person wrote.
The cow was additionally referenced in quite a few books accessible by way of a Google Books search.
In abstract, Massive Bertha, a cow from Sneem, County Kerry, Eire, was bought as a calf by native farmer Jerome O’Leary. She set two Guinness World Data, residing to the age of 48 and producing 39 calves, making her each the oldest and most prolific cow in historical past. Nevertheless, the declare about Massive Bertha consuming whiskey is undetermined, supported solely by the proprietor’s private account. Furthermore, we couldn’t independently confirm the declare that Massive Bertha raised the sum of $75,000 for most cancers analysis. In consequence, now we have rated this declare as a mix of true and undetermined info.
Massive Bertha Drank Whiskey?
The primary declare in viral posts was that Massive Bertha drank whiskey. One Threads put up mentioned, “Apparently, she was recognized to drink whiskey, usually used to have fun her birthday and different events.”
A 2022 The Irish Post article reported that in response to Massive Bertha’s proprietor “she would want a shot of whiskey to regular her nerves earlier than these auspicious public appearances.” Historian Turtle Bunbury also shared that O’Leary as soon as advised him he would give her “a drop of poitín [aka “Irish moonshine”] or whiskey to metal her nerves towards the maddening crowds.”
Massive Bertha Broke 2 Guinness Data?
Secondly, social media posts claimed Massive Bertha lived to 48 years and had 39 calves, breaking two Guinness World Data. One Threads put up stated, “She certainly set two Guinness World Data: one for being the oldest cow ever recorded and one other for producing 39 calves.” This declare additionally appeared in a 2010 Guardian article and on an X account for Kerry Library.
Actually, in response to Guinness World Records, “The oldest age recorded for a cow was 48 years and 9 months for Massive Bertha (1944–93), a Dremon owned by Jerome O’Leary of Blackwatersbridge, Co. Kerry, Republic of Eire.” Moreover, Massive Bertha was recognized as essentially the most prolific cow, producing 39 calves by 1993. RTÉ, Eire’s nationwide broadcaster, reported on her thirty ninth being pregnant in 1986.
Raised $75K for Most cancers Analysis?
Lastly, social media posts and articles claimed Massive Bertha “raised $75,000 for most cancers analysis.” For example, the Ballyvolane Home Spirits Firm noted the cow was “engaged in elevating cash for native most cancers reduction charities,” and historian Turtle Bunbury reported that her proprietor, O’Leary, highlighted “her wonderful function as a fundraiser.”
Massive Bertha did certainly assist increase vital funds for most cancers analysis by way of public appearances and charity occasions. Nevertheless, the precise quantity she raised is unsure.
A 1993 Deseret Information article acknowledged that her appearances at cattle exhibits helped increase over “$75,000 for most cancers analysis and different charitable causes.” This determine could stem from equal sums in kilos (£50,000 or £60,000), as Eire doesn’t use U.S. {dollars}. A 2000 Irish Impartial article reported that O’Leary organized Massive Bertha’s appearances, elevating over £60,000 for most cancers remedy, whereas a 2014 Farmers Journal article talked about O’Leary’s efforts, alongside Donie Riney and Pat O’Connell, “to boost greater than £50,000 for Assist Most cancers Therapy (ACT) by way of Bertha’s public appearances.”
In an e mail, Bunbury confirmed that Massive Bertha “was actually concerned in elevating cash for the Pat O’Connell Most cancers Fund,” citing a 1994 article in The Scotsman, which reported a complete of £50,000 raised, and a 2000 article in The Kerryman, which talked about a sum of £60,000.
Kerry County Council knowledgeable us that they don’t have any info on this matter.
We have now additionally reached out to Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society and Kerry Library for a remark and can replace this text if we obtain a response.
