There was the apathy of the people and the active opposition of the Press and the politicians.

It would be hard to say now whether the abuse of the Conservative _Cork Constitution_ or that of the Nationalist _Eagle_, of Skibbereen, was the louder.

We were "killing the calves," we were "forcing the young women to emigrate," we were "destroying the industry." Mr.Plunkett was described as a "monster in human shape," and was adjured to "cease his hellish work." I was described as his "Man Friday" and as "Rough-rider Anderson." Once, when I thought I had planted a Creamery within the precincts of the town of Rathkeale, my co-operative apple-cart was upset by a local solicitor who, having elicited the fact that our movement recognised neither political nor religious differences--that the Unionist-Protestant cow was as dear to us as her Nationalist-Catholic sister--gravely informed me that our programme would not suit Rathkeale.

"Rathkeale," said he, pompously, "is a Nationalist town--Nationalist to the backbone--and every pound of butter made in this Creamery must be made on Nationalist principles, or it shan't be made at all." This sentiment was applauded loudly, and the proceedings terminated.
On another occasion a similar project was abandoned because the flow of water to the disused mill which it was proposed to convert into a creamery, passed through a conduit lined with cement originally purchased from a man who now occupied a farm from which another had been evicted.

To some minds these little complications would have spelled failure.