The story of turf or peat starts tens of thousands of years ago when over long periods of time successive layers of plants and mosses withered and died in water-logged areas, building up by slow degrees the bogland that at one time covered one-seventh of the surface of Ireland. Turf, or peat as it is sometimes called, makes an excellent fuel, and for centuries has been cut and saved by people of the bogland districts who use it in their homes

All of the areas we visited in Ireland had peat bogs. Peat or turf is still used as a fuel by many people although bottled gas and electricity have replaced it for most. There is a lot of labor involved in cutting, stacking and hauling peat. I would liken it to cutting firewood from the forest – Lot’s of work.

Peat burns somewhat like coal or charcoal and leave very little ash. The smoke smells a little like coal, a little like wood, but has a sweet, almost fragrant aroma all it’s own. When used in a fireplace it seems to radiate a lot of heat from the glowing coals. In one house we ate Soda Bread which was cooked next to a peat fire in an open fireplace. (Click image to enlarge)