On our way to see Clannad in Limerick on Saturday. We decided to take the scenic route via Abbeyfeale and on to Glin and Foynes and the Shannon estuary.
Near the village of Athea we spotted a few fields full of hand dug turf drying. They looked like they had been there since at least last year if not longer.
What a sight! It seemed like there was a new branch of natural art called "Turf Art". It looked like some natural sculpture or a work of art.
This is the way our organic ancestors have gathered fuel for thousands of years. Sweating and toiling and hoping for a dry Summer. Like the farmers saving hay for the pasture grazing shortage in Winter.
I had seen a part of Ireland's rural past. It looked so natural and a way of life that is quickly disappearing.
Reflecting on the turf, I guess that makes you a turf accountant. I'll have twenty quid each way on Desert Illusion in the 13.25 at Redcar.
ReplyDeleteHa,ha. Here's a betting tip for you YP. Dusty Carpet 13.25 at Listowel. It's never been beat!
ReplyDeleteIs that peat turf? It's not used much anymore over here.
ReplyDeleteYes JayCee. It's used for cooking and heating. Living in rural areas you can still have a stove or open fire. The turf ashes can be scattered on the garden.
DeleteI really like the idea of the fuel that people need being in the land around them. Same with food. My granny never ate a chia seed in her 95 years.
ReplyDeleteYour first sentence sums up the turf cutters perfectly Veg Artist. They were self reliant and didn't have fuel Bill's if they sweated and toiled and the rain kept away.
ReplyDeleteBy turf do you mean a sort of peat for burning? There is very little in accessible peat in Wales and though I'm not certain I suspect cutting it would now be illegal.
ReplyDeleteI do Mark. The powers that be are trying to ban turf cutting in Ireland. It's been a way of rural life for over a thousand years.
ReplyDeleteThat turf will be in great demand if the russian tyrant continues cutting off heating supplies. We will all begin to use local resources again. Our wood comes from local olive trees. Fortuantely they grow at a great rate and it's only the prunings
ReplyDeleteI agree we should make use of our local fuel resources Linda. There's plenty of washed up timber on the beaches.
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