Peat is a soil that is made up of the partially decomposed remains of dead plants which have accumulated on top of eachother in waterlogged places for thousands of years. Areas where peat accumulates are called peatlands. Peat is brownish-black in colour and in it’s natural state is composed of 90% water and 10% solid material. It consists of Sphagnum moss along with the roots, leaves, flowers and seeds of heathers, grasses and sedges. Occasionally the trunks and roots of trees such as scots pine, oak, birch and yew are also present in the peat.

As the summer draws to a close, the boglands stand out most distinctively from the rest of the landscape. The leaves of both the common bog cotton and, in particular, the deer grass (Scirpus caesitosus) turn the sward to a brilliant russet which seems to glow in the low winter light. These russet patches, swathes, or even entire landscapes, are sure indicators of bogland.  

The Bog Moss is important as it acts like a sponge or candle wick, drawing up water and keeping the surface of the bog wet and waterlogged, in all but the driest periods. So, even though the bog continued to grow upwards, away from the water table, the Bog Moss ensured that the water table rose in tandem with the rising peat level. During the long history of bog growth, there has been occasional changes in the overall climate in Ireland. About 4,500 years ago the annual rainfall decreased. This caused bog surfaces to dry, and allowed the invasion and establishment of a pine wood land on the surface of the bog. This woodland persisted for some 500 years, until the climate changed again and became wetter. Rapid bog growth recommenced as the surface became waterlogged, and trees died. Tree stumps and whole tree trunks were buried and preserved in the rapidly accumulating sphagnum peat. The layers of fen and sphagnum peat and the buried pine stumps are often seen exposed by turf cutters at the margins of raised bogs.

Perhaps the most spectacular and best-known adaptation to life on the bogs is the carnivorous plant. Several species have developed the ability to trap and eat animals as a means of supplementing their meagre diet. The animals are very small and almost exclusively insects, although the sundews (Drosera species ) are able to trap the bigger darter dragonflies which have wing spans as wide as the human hand.
The sweet scented bog myrtle (myrica gale), typical of western boglands, forms a partnership with bacteria in its roots to obtain extra nitrogen, while the common bog cotton (eriophorum agustiffolium ) uses a snorkel technique, relying on large air filled cells in its roots based to survive in oxygen poor environment beneath the living carpet of sphagnum. A family of tiny brilliantly coloured `jewel’ beetles (Donaica species) use these air spaces as living quarters.

Boglands are home to only a few species of animal, yet can boast the largest animal in Ireland today-the red deer. Red deer can be found wallowing in peat baths to rid themselves of flies and parasites, Otters and badgers occasionally venture out into the bogs in search of the eggs and chicks of ground nesting plains.
The songs of skylarks and meadow pipits provides incessant background noise on the boglands. But perhaps the most characteristics sounds of the boglands are, first, the rustle and buzz of dragonfly wings on a still, sunny day as these huge insects patrol the pools and hollows that are dotted across the bogs, and cries of the birds. Most evocative of all, however, is the combination of bird-songs:the cry of the curlew, the shout of the grouse and the sad “wheep” of the golden plover.


Peat has played an important role in the history of Ireland and the development of Ireland and in particular the midland counties. There is documentary evidence that peat has been used as a fuel since the 8th century in this country. The destruction of our woodlands in the 17th century meant the only other fuel available was peat. Prior to the famine the population of this country was 8.2 million people. It is estimated that at this stage 6/7 million tonnes of peat were used in this country annually. Records show that the earliest attempts at peat use on a large scale was reclamation of the peatlands for agricultural purposes. Several other uses for peat were found in the 19th century varying from peat paper (1835), to peat charcoal (1850), peat moss products (1850), turf distillation (1849) etc. None of these enterprises were successful at that time but showed the commitment the Irish people had in trying to make good use from this freely available natural resource
Moving forward then, to World War 2, Ireland found itself in economic isolation, in particular in relation to its energy supply. That led to the establishment of Bord na Mona and the ESB, in the mid 1940’s, with the role of developing the resources and creating finance in the midlands. This is the context in which the peatlands were developed for industrial purposes . Such this time Bord na Mona developed the raised bogs to derive fuel to generate electricity, create other fuel and conversation issues relating to this development but the after use of these bogs known as cutaways are of equal importance also. The creation of wet lands and parklands from these cutaway bogs are a positive development, in particular the Bord na Mona parklands is a very good example of this.


The parklands projects is both interesting and exciting, its significance far exceeding the 2,000 hectare site itself. During the 1940’s and 50’s Bord na Mona – Irish peat board, was set up to 2develop Ireland’s peat resources”, Since its establishment it has purchased thousands of hectares of peatland and now owns approximately 7% or 80,000 hectares of Irelands lowlands bogs. Once considered an economic wasteland these bogs have been turned into a commercial enterprise; peat is milled for energy production, harvested for horticultural products and commercial fuel production. Over recent years large tracts of bog have been cutaway- “cutaway” being the term used to describe and area that has come out of production once all commercial peat has been removed. The Boora bog complex in Co. Offaly is one of the oldest areas of commercial production and as a result was the first area where large tracts of cutaway emerged. But what was to be done with these vast expanses of land? Over a short period of time it has been flooded and allowed to recolonise naturally. As a result of this development the area has become a new homre to many birds and animals at risk in local farm areas.
Hundreds of birds and animals have made a new home in the magnificent wilderness. Surprisingly it has only taken a short length of time for plants and animals to recolonise the area. Different varities of plants and bird communities have developed. Over 250 vascular plants have grown and its developed into one of the most amazing mosaic patterns of life and habitat range in Ireland. The habitat range goes from woodlands to open grasslands, to reed beds, to heather areas, to mossy areas, and rush covered lands. The cutaway bog landscape is a life line for many bird species today. Natural recolonisation of large tracts of cutaway is providing new habitats, replacing those that have disappeared from farmland. The absence of fertilisers and pesticides have allowed a rich diversity of insects and plants, and birds flourish, creating a mosaic of wetland and terrestrial habitats throughout. Resident and migratory birds alike are attracted to the cutaways in increasing numbers.


Lough Boora Mesolithic site was discovered in 1977 when what was first thought to be a stone track way was brought to the attention of the National Museum. This was investigated and found to be the storm shoreline of a post-glacial lake, a remnant of an era when the Shannon and its lakes - Lough Ree and Lough Derg covered much more of the Midlands than today. Further investigation of the shoreline revealed the charcoal remains of ancient camp fires. Associated with these were approximately 1,500 artefacts, many of them carefully worked black stone tools made of chert - a stone like flint, found locally in glacial deposits. The campfire sites, dated to between 6800 and 6500 BC, were the temporary campsites of hunters during the Mesolithic age (Middle Stone Age). The site itself is not the most spectacular archaeological feature as nothing remains of these encampments. However, it is one of the most important archaeological finds in Ireland. Prior to its discovery it was thought that the first human settlements were near to the coast and that the midlands remained uncolonised. The discovery of the Lough Boora Mesolithic site has proven this to be inaccurate and pushed the accepted date for the colonisation of the midlands back by over 3,000 years! The site, part of which is now a National Heritage Area, is situated at the end of a 1.75 km walk, which is being developed as a sculpture trail. Beginning at the edge of Boora Lake and continuing through coniferous, oak and birch woodland, the walk ends at the storm shoreline in a remote open area. A stone plaque marks the location of the settlement.


Mongan Bog is a midland raised bog of medium size situated immediately east of the monastic site of Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly, and 12 km south of Athlone. It is situated in a basin, surrounded on 95% of its perimeter by high ground on mineral soil. At two points in the north it shares a common boundary with the Pilgrim's Road Esker. Most of the bog is a Statutory Nature Reserve, established in 1987. The bog has been the subject of on-going intensive research since 1972. Mongan Bog is a mostly intact and unusually wet raised bog with classic hummock and pool formations over a large proportion of the surface, largely due to its unusual surrounding topography. It has several features of special zoological interest. In addition its lowest strata are among the oldest in Ireland. Scenically it is part of an area rich in intact natural features (callows, eskers, limestone pavement) which enhances its importance even more. Raised bogs, which are, actively growing are a rare habitat in Europe and are listed on Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive as a priority habitat. The ongoing intensive research on all aspects of bog ecology reinforces its international importance.


Clara Bog is situated some 2 km south of Clara village. Much of it is state-owned and designated a statutory nature reserve. Clara Bog has long been regarded as one of the most important lowland raised bogs in the country, being the largest remaining example of the true Midland sub-type. It has well-developed hummock and hollow complexes and one of the few remaining soak systems. The bog vegetation has been much studied and is well known. Variations in the proportions of Bog moss (Sphagnum spp.), Heather (Calluna vulgaris) and Cotton grass (Eriophorum spp.) has been related to ecological features such as pools, soaks and ridges. Active raised bogs, once characteristic of central Ireland, are now rare and vulnerable, and have been recognised by the European Union as a habitat of international importance. Ireland has a special responsibility to conserve the best of its remaining bogs. Further drainage, peat extraction, burning or attempted land reclamation is not consistent with this responsibility.