There’s life in the old bog yet

Much is being made of the destruction of bogs and the need to protect what little remains of Ireland’s once vast peatland areas.

On an upbeat note, however, there are encouraging signs that spent bogland can be restored.

People who have for generations got their domestic fuel from the 53 Irish raised bogs on which turf cutting has been banned under an EU directive find it hard to understand why the heavy hand of Brussels bureaucracy falls on them.