Photo's Old and New




1964.  Lissananny Bog. Saving the turf, "peat" this is used as a major source of fuel in Ireland.  Friends and neighbours would gather and go through the process of cutting and spreading the turf on the ground, leave to dry for couple of days, they would then scatter and leave to dry for a further few days, again they would return and turn over each sod of turf, depending on the weather and how quick the turf was drying, sometimes the turf would have to be lifted and formed into footing's in order for the air to flow through for the drying process.  With the weather we experience in Ireland, often or not, it's damp and wet, the turf may then have to be lifted yet again into pigeon hole footing's or clamping.  In this photo one can see that the turf have been clamped.  The next process would be to use creels or cart the turf to the side of the road, build a reek "peak" of turf, the turf is then safe from the weather and can be left for some time while people get on with other work's, such as saving the hay, as seen in the photo below.  Hay was feed for farm animals, usually fed over the winter period.  

 

While the sun shines!