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Big Bertha, a cow belonging to Jerome O’Leary from Sneem, County Kerry, Ireland, notably lived for 48 years and gave birth to 39 calves, earning her two Guinness World Records. It’s reported that Big Bertha played a role in raising considerable funds for cancer research by participating in public events and charity drives. However, …

… we could not independently confirm the exact amount that Bertha helped raise, nor could we authenticate the claim that the cow drank whiskey, as this was based solely on O’Leary’s statement without any corroborating sources.

For many years, a tale circulated on social media about a cow named Big Bertha who supposedly drank whiskey, lived to 48 years of age, gave birth to 39 calves, set two Guinness World Records, and raised $75,000 for cancer research.

(Instagram user @how.vintage)

The story circulated widely across various social media channels, including 9GAG, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, iFunny, and Facebook. One user humorously noted, “When the cow has more achievements than me,” reflecting a mix of admiration and incredulity.

Additionally, Big Bertha has been mentioned in several publications, which can be found in a Google Books search.

To summarize, Big Bertha, a bovine from Sneem, County Kerry, Ireland, was bought as a calf by local farmer Jerome O’Leary. She gained fame by setting two Guinness World Records for her longevity—living to the age of 48—and for giving birth to 39 calves, making her the oldest and most prolific cow recorded. However, claims about her alleged consumption of whiskey remain unresolved, relying solely on the owner’s anecdotes. Furthermore, we couldn’t independently confirm the assertion that Big Bertha helped raise $75,000 for cancer research. Consequently, we’ve categorized this narrative as a blend of verified and undetermined claims.

The initial claim circulating in viral posts was that Big Bertha had a fondness for whiskey. A post on Threads noted, “Interestingly, she was known to drink whiskey, often used to celebrate her birthday and other occasions.”

An article from 2022 published by The Irish Post reported that Big Bertha’s owner indicated “she would need a shot of whiskey to steady her nerves before these auspicious public appearances.” Historian Turtle Bunbury also shared that O’Leary once mentioned he would give her “a drop of poitín [aka ‘Irish moonshine’] or whiskey to steel her nerves against the maddening crowds.”

Unfortunately, we only have O’Leary’s testimony regarding this. Every report we found about Bertha’s supposed whiskey-drinking habits was solely based on O’Leary’s vivid anecdotes. There was no supporting evidence or independent sources who claimed to have seen it.

Additionally, social media posts asserted that Big Bertha lived to the age of 48 and had produced 39 calves, thereby breaking two Guinness World Records. One post on Threads declared, “She indeed set two Guinness World Records: one for being the oldest cow ever recorded and another for producing 39 calves.” This assertion was also mentioned in a 2010 article in The Guardian and appeared on an X account for Kerry Library.

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 in Blackwatersbridge, Co. Kerry, Republic of Ireland. Furthermore, Big Bertha was recognized as the most prolific cow, having produced 39 calves by 1993. In 1986, RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster, reported on her 39th pregnancy.

Moreover, various social media posts and articles mentioned that Big Bertha “raised $75,000 for cancer research.” For example, the Ballyvolane House Spirits Company noted that the cow was “involved in raising funds for local cancer relief charities,” and historian Turtle Bunbury reported that her owner, O’Leary, emphasized “her remarkable role as a fundraiser.”

Indeed, Big Bertha contributed significantly to fundraising for cancer research through her appearances and charity events. However, the precise amount she raised remains unclear.

A 1993 Deseret News article claimed that her presence at cattle shows helped generate over “$75,000 for cancer research and other charitable efforts.” This amount may be linked to similar figures in pounds (£50,000 or £60,000), considering Ireland does not operate in U.S. dollars. A 2000 Irish Independent article reported that O’Leary organized Big Bertha’s events, raising upwards of £60,000 for cancer treatment, while a 2014 Farmers Journal article detailed O’Leary’s collaboration with Donie Riney and Pat O’Connell to “raise more than £50,000 for Aid Cancer Treatment (ACT) through Bertha’s public appearances.”

Bunbury has confirmed in an email that Big Bertha “was certainly engaged in fundraising for the Pat O’Connell Cancer Fund.” He referenced a 1994 article from The Scotsman, noting that it reported a total of £50,000 raised. Additionally, he pointed to a 2000 article in The Kerryman, which indicated a sum of £60,000.

Kerry County Council has informed us that they do not have any information regarding this issue.

We have also contacted Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society and Kerry Library for their input and will provide an update to this article should we receive any responses.