During my visit to Ireland in July, I had the opportunity of going out turf cutting at the ‘bog' near Dunboyne.

Peat is still used as a fuel for fires in many parts of Ireland. It is cheaper than firewood and coal, and the heat lasts a lot longer.

Left: The turf laid out in rows.
Right: No it's not snow. The wind blows fluff from the bog flowers on to the turf.

The turf is collected during the summer months when the ‘bog' is not as wet – this summer it was very dry and easily harvested.
The ‘bogs' are usually owned by one family and passed down through the generations.
They work out the price and make sure everyone gets their right share.
Gone are the days when the peat was cut with a two-handled blade called a ‘slean'. The turf is now cut by a special machine on the back of a tractor. It is laid out in long rows and sold per row length.
Once the bog farmer has been paid, the owner has the task of breaking the turf in smaller lengths and piling them in ‘two-by-two' stacks to dry, or some are heaped up in larger piles.
This is hard work – and usually the whole family is involved when it comes time to pick up the turf, put it in a trailer or sacks, and take it back to the home. There it is unloaded and stored in a dry shed ready for the winter.
There is some controversy over the continued cutting of turf, as conservationists want the bogs reserved as wildlife habitats. Collecting turf for fuel has been going on for hundreds of years, and is part of Ireland's rich cultural heritage.