Turf cutting in East Limerick and North Tipperary

Newport Historical and Archaeological Society’s first Lecture of the 2024/’25 season takes place on Tuesday next, December 10, at O Sullivan's Lounge, Newport at 8pm.

In an era where, for one reason or another, the turf cutting tradition is beginning to be lost to an entire generation, the society invite those interested to the lecture on ‘An Exploration of Domestic and Industrial Turf Cutting in East Limerick and North Tipperary’.

This presentation explores traditional methods of cutting and saving turf in two bogs bordering each other, namely, Mackey’s Bog, Castleconnell, and Shower Bog, Newport.

A synopsis will be given about the construction of car-roads, followed by discussing traditional turf-cutting tools and turf-saving methods.

The famous bog slips, which occurred between Gouig, Co Limerick, and Annaholty, Co Tipperary, will also be described. The presentation concludes by discussing the first industrial turf-cutting machine introduced in Mackey’s Bog at the start of the 20th Century and the peat - briquette business in Annaholty.

This lecture will be delivered by a local man from Garden Hill, Castleconnell, namely, John Phayer, BSc, MA in Ed, Specialist Diploma in Teaching, Learning and Scholarship (First Class Hons).

Admission is €5, and refreshments will be served after the talk. All are welcome, and we look forward to seeing many new faces for the upcoming season of lectures.