Bus tour 2 19th October 2025
We were delighted to welcome so many people including a group of MA students from Maynooth University.
Our first stop was Killinthomas turf camp where Larry Fulham recounted its history. We went on to Ballydermot Works where Larry spoke about the work practices there and future plans by Bord na Móna for the place. It was sad to see that uses for both places had come to an end of their working lives, although there are interesting plans for the Killinthomas site. We stopped at Knockirr Bog for our lunch and after a quick overview from Tommy Knowles and a demonstration of hand cut turf using Frank Morans sleáns, a few tried both cutting and catching. (Michele Mulligan at Knockirr Stables very kindly allowed us to park there while at Knockirr Bog)
Next stop was at Timahoe North Solar Farm. Tom Daniels gave us an overview of life on the bog here in the past. He told the story of the Jobber’s Pole which Sheena also found in the Schools Folklore Collection from the 1930s. Our final stop was Coill Dubh, where Evelyn D’Arcy and David Jameson from the 12th Field gave us some insights into the architecture of the Frank Gibney designed estate for Bord na Móna, dating to the early 1950s. Thanks also to Arthur and Pearl Voigt for their input on life lived in the estate.
When we arrived back at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre Jesmond Harding showcased his collection of butterflies and discussed the life of Irish butterflies. Larry Fulham also tabled copies of the Bog Commissioners maps and spoke at length on their interesting history. Aideen Cross loaned her tapestry of old Bord na Móna employee signatures. The men who lodged in her relation’s B n B many years ago had signed a table cloth. Aideen then embroidered their signature in different colour threads.
Brian Dempsey also loaned us his collection of archival images.
