The Bog

It was a bit of a surprise to me when I learned that people use the bog to fuel their fires.  My cousin Máirín explained to us that people around the west coast of Ireland cut out pieces of the bog called turf, which contain oil and are used to build a fire for cooking and warmth. When she was younger, her family would take the donkey, water, tea, and some brown bread to work on the bog during the summer months. When they walked to the bog they would set up a fire and have some tea and bread. All of the local people would get together and start digging out the bog. This was very hard work. She recalls playing in the oily mess as a child and helping her father pull it out to dry. Once it's dry they would brings the bricks of turf back to the house to use.