Turf cut in half west’s protected peat bogs
And the turf-cutters, who were out in force at the weekend in Co Galway, have vowed to continue, despite harvesting being banned in bogs which are formally designated as Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive.
Turf has already been cut at more than 30 bogs, mostly in the west and midlands, as the bog owners continue to reject the Government’s offers of compensation and insist on exercising their age-old right to harvest the peat.
Spokesperson Dermot Moran, who represents the Clonmoylan, Barroughter and Arduigue Bogs Action Group in Co Galway, said they would continue to cut turf.
Gardaí again maintained a presence on a road near Clonmoylan and Barroughter bogs in south Co Galway at the weekend, with contractors working throughout Friday night.
There were no arrests and Mr Moran said the plots were privately owned and that access to the bogs was by private road.
Close on 100 people were involved in cutting turf at the weekend, with some of them using the traditional sleán in the operation.
“We have said all along that turf-cutting and conservation can go hand in hand and we have also said that we intend to keep cutting turf the same way that our people before us did for generations,” he said.
Mr Moran said they had no interest in the offer of €1,500 compensation, but were always looking for a solution.
