Turf Spades

There are 2 types of spade used to cut ( dig ) turf. I ( Brine,red hair ) am holding an ordinary spade used to cut sod turf , great big lumps for open fires. I ( Marcus , dark hair ) am holding a slaine or slean , a special spade used to cut turf to burn in all sorts of fires. The blade of this turf spade is L-shaped and very, very sharp, like a knife. Master McGirr was able to cut sheets of paper on it's sharp edges.
Brine and Marcus

1900 A. D.

Starting in the 1700s, the raised bogs of Ireland were exploited as a source of cheap fuel. Most of this was cut by hand, and laid in the sun to dry before being burned. At the time of the Irish Potato famine, peat (called 'turf' when cut) was often the only source of fuel available. Most intact raised bogs vary between 3 to 12 metres in thickness.
In recent years, there has been increased understanding of the importance of raised bogs to science. In the Republic of Ireland, there are plans to set aside 10,000 hectares of raised bog for conservation purposes. In Northern Ireland, which has less raised bog to begin with, almost all raised bogs are being preserved as Areas of Special Scientific Interest.
Corey and Gary

500 A. D,

By 500AD, in the Celtic period, the climate had turned wetter and the bogs became more marshy again. With no decomposition of waste, the bog's dome continued to rise, becoming much higher than the surrounding landscape. As the bogs were now too wet to walk upon, let alone graze animals on, some Iron Age farmers built wooden walkways over them. By 1000 A.D. farming had moved to the lower ground.

Hayden and Marcus

500 B.C.

By 500 B.C. the lakes had completely filled in. The bog was now higher than the land around giving it it's name ,Raised. Around this time, the climate was drier than today, and large trees were able to grow on the bog itself. These have been found buried in bogs today, along with grasses that could not survive there now. Farmers would have used the drier bogs for grazing in summer.
Jordan and Alexander

1500 B. C...

Over many years reeds grew so thick they began to choke the smaller lakes until this rotting plant matter rose above the surface of the lake. With no fresh water the lakes became more acidic killing what plants and trees, oak, ash and elm that had been left. The little open water that remained seems to have been important to Bronze age people as they left many treasures ( swords, shields and chalices) in them. Today bog oak , found in these Raised Bogs is sought after by Irish artists for sculpture.
Dermot and Ryan

Raised Bog

Blanket Bogs were the result of what man did. Raised Bogs are the result of what the Ice Age did to Ireland. The cuts and dips in the land left after the Ice Age were surrounded by woods with hazel and Pine trees. These cuts and dips became small lakes.
Danny and Ben

2000 A.D.

People began to cut (dig) turf from Blanket Bogs in the 17th century. Today it is still done but not as much . It is back- breaking work says Master McGirr who did it as a teenager when he first came to live in Ireland. (He's Scottish!!)
Aodhan and Eoin

1000 A.D.

By 1000 A.D. the whole process had slowed down. From then until now there has been little change in Blanket Bogs.They are called Blanket Bogs because they cover the ground like a dropped blanket.
Brine and Sean

500 B.C.

By 500 B.C. heather covered the tpos of the hills. Peat began to build up on this high ground.
Jordan and Alexander

2500 B.C.

The first Farmers in Ireland cleared the land on top of the hills for grazing and growing from the first day they arrived. Most of the top of our hills were now bare.
Gary and Corey.

Blanket Bog

This drawing shows how Ireland might have looked 6000 years ago . There were more trees then, than today . About this time farmers came to Ireland.


Kawishka & Alexander

Turf

This photograph shows a man holding two pieces of dried turf.
Anthony,Ryan ,Shane

Turf Drying

This photograph shows stacked turf drying . Tradition says you need 50 clear , dry days to dry turf . Stacking the turf in cone like shapes is called footing . The turf need footing, turned inside out many times before it is dry.

Sean and Brian .

A Bank of Turf

This photograph shows a turf bank.On top of the bank there is newly cut turf.This turf was cut using a slaine or slean( Irish language words for a spade to cut turf ).

Dermot and Gary