Say:

Once upon a time there was a cow named Big Bertha who drank whiskey, lived to be 48, had 39 calves, broke two Guinness World Records, and raised $75,000 for cancer research.

Classification:

What is true?

Big Bertha, a cow owned by a man named Jerome O’Leary, who lived in Sneem, County Kerry, Ireland, lived to be 48 years old and gave birth to 39 calves, setting two Guinness World Records. There is evidence that Big Bertha helped raise significant funds for cancer research through public appearances and charity events. However …

What is indeterminate

…we were unable to independently verify the exact sum Bertha helped raise, nor were we able to verify the claim that the cow drank whiskey, as it is based solely on O’Leary’s account, with no independent sources or evidence supporting it. corroborate

For years, a story spread in social networks that there once was a cow named Big Bertha who drank whiskey, lived to be 48, had 39 calves, broke two Guinness World Records, and raised $75,000 for cancer research.

(Instagram user @how.vintage)

The claim spread across numerous social media platforms, including 9GAG, tiktok, instagram, Rags, iFunnyand Facebook. “When the cow is more accomplished than me,” wrote one Facebook user.

The cow is also referred to in numerous books available through a Google Book Search.

In short, Big Bertha, a cow from Sneem, County Kerry, Ireland, was purchased as a calf by local farmer Jerome O’Leary. She set two Guinness World Records, lived to be 48 years old, and produced 39 calves, making her the oldest and most prolific cow in history. However, the claim that Big Bertha drinks whiskey is indeterminate and supported only by the owner’s personal account. Additionally, we were unable to independently verify the claim that Big Bertha raised the sum of $75,000 for cancer research. As a result, we have rated this statement as a mix of true and indeterminate information.

Did Big Bertha drink whiskey?

The first claim in viral posts was that Big Bertha drank whiskey. Posting a thread mentioned“Interestingly, she was known for drinking whiskey, which was often used to celebrate her birthday and other occasions.”

A 2022 The Irish Post The article reported that, according to Big Bertha’s owner, he “would need a shot of whiskey to calm his nerves before these auspicious public appearances.” Bunbury Turtle Historian also shared that O’Leary once told him he would give him “a drop of poitín (also known as ‘Irish moonshine’) or whiskey to strengthen his nerves against the maddening crowds.”

Unfortunately, we only have O’Leary’s word for that. Every report we could find about Bertha’s alleged whiskey-drinking habits was based entirely on O’Leary’s own colorful anecdotes. We found no corroborating evidence or independent sources who claimed to have witnessed it.

Did Big Bertha break 2 Guinness records?

Secondly, social media posts claimed that Big Bertha lived to be 48 years old and had 39 calves, breaking two Guinness World Records. Posting a thread fixed“In fact, she set two Guinness World Records: one for being the oldest cow ever recorded and another for producing 39 calves.” This claim also appeared in a 2010 Guardian. article and in an account Kerry Library.

In fact, according to Guinness World Records“The oldest recorded age for a cow was 48 years and 9 months for Big Bertha (1944-1993), a Dremon owned by Jerome O’Leary of Blackwatersbridge, Co. Kerry, Republic of Ireland.” Also, Big Bertha was acquaintance as the most prolific cow, producing 39 calves in 1993. RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster, reported in her 39th pregnancy in 1986.

$75,000 raised for cancer research?

Finally, posts and articles on social media claimed that Big Bertha “raised $75,000 for cancer research.” For example, Ballyvolane House Spirits Company noted the cow was “engaged in raising money for local cancer relief charities”, and historian Turtle Bunbury reported that its owner, O’Leary, highlighted “her incredible role as a fundraiser.”

In fact, Big Bertha helped raise significant funds for cancer research through public appearances and charity events. However, the exact amount he raised is uncertain.

A Deseret news story from 1993 article He stated that his appearances at livestock shows helped raise more than “$75,000 for cancer research and other charitable causes.” This figure may come from equivalent sums in pounds (£50,000 or £60,000), as Ireland does not use US dollars. An Irish independent from 2000 article reported that O’Leary organized Big Bertha’s appearances, raising more than £60,000 for cancer treatment, while a 2014 Farmers Journal article mentioned O’Leary’s efforts, along with Donie Riney and Pat O’Connell, “to raise more than £50,000 for Aid Cancer Treatment (ACT) through Bertha’s public appearances.”

In an email, Bunbury confirmed that Big Bertha “was certainly involved in raising money for the Pat O’Connell Cancer Fund,” citing a 1994 report. article in The Scotsman, which reported a total of £50,000 raised, and 2,000 article in The Kerryman, which mentioned a sum of £60,000.

Kerry County Council They informed us that they do not have any information on this matter.

We have also approached Kerry Historical and Archaeological Society and Kerry Library for a comment and we will update this article if we receive a response.