National Forum

Ban on Turf Cutting

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So how do people feel about this? - johnny and the greens launch an another attack on rural life? or must we protect the wildlife and frogs so we can go on walking tours in the bog?
personally i hate the bog and im sure alot of u will agree but it has to be done. my own family only need turf for an open fire so we dont cut as often anymore but there as still plenty of people (especially the elderly) who need turf to heat their homes. (thats right no oil or gas etc). in my part of the world there are areas of blanket bogs so they havent been affected yet...but the midlands and roscommon etc seem badly hit in areas which there are raised bogs.

its a way of life for many elderly farmers and their only source of heat. in fact it seems the bord na mona owned bogs are in worse condition and destroy more bog than ordinary locals.
is this EU law coming into effect or another poinless law passed from the greens - most of were proberly never in a bog.
i suppose my point is - whats next to be banned?

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11747 - 03/07/2010 13:19:34    694937

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using too much air

tyroneled (Tyrone) - Posts: 69 - 03/07/2010 13:54:50    694964

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I'd like to hear some views of other 'rural folk' on the Green's proposals. No one cuts turf anymore, and no one goes stag hunting. Seem to be common sense proposals affecting very few people who have many other valid alternatives.

Benandonner (Antrim) - Posts: 459 - 03/07/2010 14:07:37    694970

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Benandonner. To say that noone cuts turf any more is a ludicrous statement. I live in rural Mayo and nearly everyone I know that are natives of the area own a bog and cut turf annually.

maigh_eo (Mayo) - Posts: 1346 - 03/07/2010 14:35:27    694993

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In Rural parts of Ireland it is a way of life for some people
I know elderley people that have been saving turf for decades, Many of these people live on their own
with the only form of heating being solid fuel.
It is not the fact that they can't use oil or gas. Of course they could use coal or timber in a solid fuel system - its the lifestyle
The saving of turf probably remains the only farming type activity that they still do and its the health benefit both mental and physical that doing a productive days work for your own benefit.

madasbutter (Mayo) - Posts: 872 - 03/07/2010 15:13:06    695025

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There is only one reason why the bogs are being banned and it has nothing to do with preserving wildlife. The only reason the government are banning them is because turf from the bogs can't be taxed simple as. Bord na Mona have done a million times more damage then normal people cutting a lod of turf.

patmcgee (Longford) - Posts: 520 - 03/07/2010 15:58:49    695040

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patmcgee
County: Longford
Posts: 219


well said

hornytoad (Cavan) - Posts: 141 - 03/07/2010 18:07:23    695116

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cutting turf is has been a tradational way of life in ireland for generations.
going up to the bog , bagging/stacking turf with my uncles was great , then the smell of the fire of the peat was warming.
it should not be stopped , we are losing to much of what makes a irish home, and that includes our peat .

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 03/07/2010 19:04:18    695142

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madasbutters.
that was a thoughtful post which would mean a lot to old people of this country..
well put i agree with u , on this one.

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 03/07/2010 19:12:03    695149

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It's a similar circumstance for Fishermen.. It's a way of life, many have been doing it in the same family for generations... But

They've pretty much fished certain species into extinction.... is that right? Just because it's their way of life...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 03/07/2010 20:13:52    695211

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what happens when we have stripped the bogs bear, what then?

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 03/07/2010 20:39:25    695254

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brendtherehand.
i think we should have were big industrial cutters are not used .
but have relaxed laws on rural folk who have cut turf for generations , ones who have not really profited
it is a way of life for these people . we should not take it away from them .

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 03/07/2010 20:52:29    695271

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brendtheredhand
County: Tyrone
Posts: 2320

695254 what happens when we have stripped the bogs bear, what then?

We'll have wiped out an ancient, uniquely diversed and incredibly layered habitat for wild life.... Some of which are completely unique to this island.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 03/07/2010 20:54:00    695272

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jimbodub.
that is a interesting point jimbo.

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 03/07/2010 21:09:31    695304

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God Donegal will never be the same again, Ah that smell of turf as you walk down the road mmm would take the heart from you!

Orlaith (Derry) - Posts: 4282 - 05/07/2010 13:58:32    696679

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Lots of people still cut turf. Its alot of peoples main sourse of income. i no from when i used to cut for a man that the money he got from cutting was what got him through the year. Also its the cheapest form of fuel to heat ur house and at a time like this its not fair to take that away

dizzydub (Dublin) - Posts: 339 - 05/07/2010 14:08:35    696706

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dizzydub
County: Dublin
Posts: 141

696706 Lots of people still cut turf. Its alot of peoples main sourse of income. i no from when i used to cut for a man that the money he got from cutting was what got him through the year. Also its the cheapest form of fuel to heat ur house and at a time like this its not fair to take that away
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I refer you back to my question dizzydub, what happens when the bogs have been stripped bare? Peat is not an infinite resource just remember!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 05/07/2010 14:44:40    696785

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The Greens think the countryside is just somewhere they can drive through at the weekends without having to be inconvenienced by the sight of houses - other than quaint run down ones of course - and cars, and people working on farms and god forbid maybe even enjoying themselves. A bit like the way the Relics of Aul Dacency used to view the peasantry as a bit of an inconvenience other than when they paid their rent. The countryside is for eco tourists, hares, rare species of snail and dragon flies.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 05/07/2010 14:54:33    696805

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jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 5881

695211 It's a similar circumstance for Fishermen.. It's a way of life, many have been doing it in the same family for generations... But

They've pretty much fished certain species into extinction.... is that right? Just because it's their way of life...



It was not Irish fishermen who decimated the Irish fisheries. They only have something like 15% of the quota for Irish waters. Our fisheries were handed over to the EU who divvied it up between the rest of them, who on top of that are engaged in massive illegal fishing.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 05/07/2010 15:04:49    696832

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hurlingdub - dont forget our sugar beat industry has also been wiped out.
i wonder how much our fishing sock we gave away is worth?

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11747 - 05/07/2010 15:19:28    696862

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