Families in north Kerry have strongly signalled they intend to continue this year cutting turf on what is now a preserved bog.

The Government has rejected a proposal which would have allowed turf cutting to continue on Ireland's raised bogs.

TURF cutters are set to bypass the Government and take their case to the European Commissioner for the Environment in a bid to find a solution to a problem which could cost the state €20,000 a day in fines if it is not resolved.

IT was like the Planet of the Apps at the National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Co Kildare.

TURF will no longer be cut on 54 EU designated habitat sites after a last minute deal was struck between turf cutters and the Irish Peatlands Council.

BOG-OWNERS have vowed to continue cutting turf, defying an EU-imposed ban which they described as a “new form of eviction from people’s land”.

INDEPENDENT TD Luke Flanagan of Roscommon-South Leitrim has welcomed an exemption for domestic turf cutting on 75 national heritage area sites, subject to the introduction of an agreed national code of environmental practices.

TURF CUTTERS representing 6,000 families hit by a ban on the non-commercial cutting of raised bogs have vowed to fight the measure all the way — even if it lands them behind bars.