The Irish Peat Bog

The Irish Peat Bog

Ireland has the finest range of peatlands in Europe.

They were formed following the last ice age, ten thousand years ago.

The retreating ice sheet left the centre of Ireland covered by shallow lakes.

Over the tens of centuries lakeside vegetation grew, died, and partly decomposed.

The cycle changed lakes into fens, and eventually into domed bogs.

 

Not only are they home to rare plants, they also provide a habitat for many birds.

Bogs are also great at preserving things, and they have yielded evidence of botanical and human history up to 9000 years old.

This has included gold and silver artefacts, dug-out canoes, and human remains.

A raised bog of international importance can be found at Monaghan, on the banks of the Shannon river, in County Offaly.

 

If you are interested in the bogs of Ireland contact Ireland and Scotland Luxury Tours as we include them in many of our tours of Ireland.