Bountiful bogs a valuable resource

Donal Hickey sees new hope for Ireland’s bogland

SONGS and tunes have been composed about the bog and now they are making films about it. People have happy memories of sunny days labouring in the peatlands to keep the home fires burning, but it was hard work when conducted in the old-fashioned way.

Turf harvesting was a slow, back-breaking chore and the most memorable part was being involved in meitheals groups of neighbours that came together to do certain jobs in rural areas. At least with a dozen or so other people there would be a certain amount of craic and conversation on the turf bank.