Why the Irish are happy to get bogged down in peat
Remains of prehistoric settlements, dugout canoes, Bronze Age weapons, an Iron Age golden collar, medieval leather shoes and the skeleton of the great Irish elk have all been found beneath their surfaces.
The bogs of Ireland are part of the Irish identity, even attracting midges that drove turf cutters to their homes early on sunny days.
Ireland has proportionately more bogland than any other country, bar Canada and Finland — 17% of our surface is covered in peat.
There are two types of bog: raised bogs originate in former lake basins and are concentrated in the midlands; blanket bogs are located in high rainfall and low temperature areas of mountain regions, and in the west of Ireland.
Bord na Móna, which was set up by the government in 1946 to develop Ireland’s peat resources, owns 80,000 hectares (200,000 acres) of peat land, employs 1,800 people, operates from 30 localities, and has an annual turnover of €296m.
In recent years, large tracts of bog have been cutaway — the term describes an area no longer in production because all commercial peat has been removed. What to do with these bogs?
Forestry and agriculture have been developed on some, but others remained unsuitable for these enterprises. Mother Nature, however, pointed the way ahead. Bord na Móna has, to date, rehabilitated 22% of its landholding, including in north west Mayo, the largest single such project undertaken in Europe.
Coillte, the State forestry company, has also undertaken restoration, involving removal of a number of tree plantations on bogs.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has acquired 7,000 hectares of bog for conservation, mostly from Bord na Móna, and has assisted in the restoration of several bogs.
Lough Boora Parklands, in Co Offaly, is the pilot project for Ireland’s cutaway bogland — an area spanning 11 counties and three provinces, with a significance far exceeding the 3,000-hectare (7,400 acres) site.
The Lough Boora Parklands, where Bord na Móna harvested turf for more than 40 years, was developed in 1995 by a group that comprised people from Bord na Móna and local community groups.
It incorporates a variety of land uses. These include coniferous forestry and agricultural grassland. It also has 50 km of paths, ranging in length from a short stroll to 5km, five fishing lakes, sanctuaries for wildlife, and historic sites.
More than 130 bird species have been recorded, many of which can be seen from hides.
A 50-acre, award-winning sculpture park features some of the most innovative sculpture in Ireland.
A rich natural and industrial legacy, the parklands of Lough Boora are now attracting visitors from many parts, as a new era dawns among the fleecy, bog cotton and flourishing wildlife.
