Claim:

There once was a cow named Big Bertha who drank whiskey, lived to be 48, sired 39 calves, broke two Guinness World Records, and raised $75,000 for cancer research.

Evaluation:

what is right

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

What is Uncertain?

… We have not been able to independently verify the exact amount Bertha helped raise, nor have we been able to verify the claim that the cow drank whiskey, as this claim is based solely on O’Leary’s account, with no independent sources or supporting evidence.

A story for years radiate Open social media There once was a cow named Big Bertha who drank whiskey, lived to be 48, sired 39 calves, broke two Guinness World Records, and raised $75,000 for cancer research.

(Instagram user @how.vintage)

The claim spread across many social media platforms. 9GAG, tiktok, instagram, Topics, iFunnyAnd Facebook. “When the nerd has more success than me,” one Facebook user wrote.

The cow has also been referenced in numerous books, which can be accessed via a website. Google Books search.

In summary, Big Bertha, a cow from Sneem, County Kerry, Ireland, was purchased as a calf by local farmer Jerome O’Leary. She broke two Guinness World Records by living to be 48 years old and producing 39 calves, making her both the oldest and most productive cow in history. However, the claim that Big Bertha drank whiskey has not yet been established and is only supported by the owner’s personal account. Moreover, we have not been able to independently verify Big Bertha’s claim to have raised a total of $75,000 for cancer research. As a result, we evaluated this claim as a mixture of accurate and inaccurate information.

Did Big Bertha Drink Whiskey?

The first claim in the viral posts was that Big Bertha drank whiskey. A Topic post mentioned“Interestingly, he was known to drink whiskey and was often used to celebrate birthdays and other events.”

2022 Irish Post The article reported that according to Big Bertha’s owner, he “will need a glass of whiskey to calm his nerves before these auspicious public appearances.” Historian Turtle Bunbury Moreover shared O’Leary once said he would give him “a drop of poitín (a.k.a. “Irish moonlight”) or whiskey to brace his nerves against the maddening crowd.”

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

Did Big Bertha Break 2 Guinness Records?

Secondly, social media posts claimed that Big Bertha lived to be 48 years old and gave birth to 39 calves, breaking two Guinness World Records. A Topic post stated“She actually broke two Guinness World Records: one for the oldest cow ever recorded, and the other for producing 39 calves.” This claim also appeared in a Guardian newspaper dated 2010. article and in an account X Kerry Library.

According to actually Guinness World Records“The oldest recorded age for a cow was 48 years 9 months for Big Bertha (1944–93), a Dremon owned by Jerome O’Leary of Blackwatersbridge, Co. Kerry, Republic of Ireland.” Also Big Bertha known She became the most productive cow, producing 39 calves by 1993. RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster reported In 1986, in her 39th pregnancy.

Raised $75K for Cancer Research?

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

Big Bertha has indeed helped raise significant funds for cancer research through public appearances and charity events. However, the exact amount he collected is unclear.

1993 Desert News article He stated that his participation in cattle shows helped “raise over $75,000 for cancer research and other charitable causes.” This figure may arise from equivalent amounts in pounds (£50,000 or £60,000) as Ireland does not use US dollars. 2000 Irish Independent article O’Leary arranged for Big Bertha to appear on stage and raised more than £60,000 for cancer treatment, the 2014 Farmers Journal reported. article He spoke of 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 “definitely involved in raising money for the Pat O’Connell Cancer Fund,” citing a 1994 report. article In The Scotsman, which reported that a total of £50,000 had been raised, and in 2000 article A total of £60,000 was mentioned in The Kerryman.

Kerry County Council They informed us that they did not have any information about this.

We also contacted Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society And Kerry Library For a comment. We will update this article if we receive a response.