Drying the turf

Close by there are patches of bogland. Small harvesting is carried out and the sods (no offence meant) will soon be stacked to dry.

There is a lot of opposition to the government ban on turf cutting on 32 raised bogs. On one side you have the lobby who want to protect raised bogland, which is very unique.

On the other side you have the turf cutters, small plots passed down from generation to generation. They cut their turf early in the summer, to carry them through the winter. It is a familiar sight and part of the fabric of Irish country life. They treat the bog with respect.

While the government imposes the ban, they are the biggest users of turf. Bord na Mona, a government semi state company emplys thousands of workers.