The Story of Turf Cutting in Ireland -- Irish History Documentary

This video tells the story of how Turf was harvested in the bog and the importance that it had for the people living in rural Ireland. We show the turf being cut as it would have been through the centuries in Ireland. We film each step required to produce turf capable of heating an Irish dwelling and as a source of fuel for cooking. In this film we also show the more modern methods used today to harvest peat on a commercial scale.
Also featured on this video are bee keeping, old breeds of cattle kept on Irish farms and a look at small scale poultry farming. This video runs for one hour.
This film was produced by John Thompson Videos Production. To find out more about our Irish Farming Videos check out www.irishfarmingvideos.com
To find out about licensing footage from this video contact us on 02829558688. All copyright belongs to Thompson Videos N. Ireland

[@borderreiver3288]

I lived in Scotland for a short time and used to cut the turf..it was said it warmed you several times...cutting it...stacking it...carrying it home...stacking again...carrying it in the house..and burning it....

[@bustersmith5569]

The heat is always in the tools !!!! Lol,,,

[@ivarlaupet8972]

buster smith Ahh yes, just burn the tools🤣

[@rorybone100]

My uncle wouldn't return to the Hebrides until the peat stack was built.

[@OolongTGuy]

Just like going out and getting your own firewood, from tree to cordwood.

[@umaxen0048]

Lots of goat cheese farts along the way...

[@charlesyoungblood1402]

Absolutely outstanding and thanks so much ! As times toughen , we'll need to draw on this proven knowledge just to survive .

[@VideosofIrishFarmingLife]

For sure! Old skills best kept alive for many reasons..

[@funkyprepper]

Loved it, don't worry. These methods will be in use this decade

[@charlesrae3793]

My mother, who passed away at the end of last year, came from Cavan and was always talking about her life there. The number of times I would hear her talking about the bog, and cutting the turf. I grew up with all these stories in my head, so it is wonderful to watch this and learn more about the life she knew.

[@charlesrae3793]

@v8 tangs ireland Mum came from a farm near Baillieborough, always spoke about it, about the towns nearby, Shercock, Virginia, Kingscourt. We went over in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

[@charlesrae3793]

@v8 tangs ireland I was in Ballyjamesduff in 2004, visiting the museum there. Mum loved to sing Come back Paddy Reilly. It's a small world, eh?

[@Whiteboytripping]

I am sorry for your loss.

[@Iamhome365]

​@Charles Rae know all the places you've mentioned, I don't live too far away from kingscourt. Sorry about the loss of your mother

[@VincentVincent-s9t]

Did you never cut the turf,like anything it's hard until you learn how to work smart. Lovely smell ,but it's a hard life.

[@hoshiarsingh6523]

Farmers all over the World are same. Toiling hard getting nothing to feed the world. I salute the farmers of them world and particularly of Ireland. Thanks.

[@martintince]

Open your eyes.

[@justa.american8303]

Thank you for taking the time to make this documentary. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it brought back memories of my Grandmother's farm. Since I was the younger of her grandchildren I had the chore of cutting, stacking and fetching wood for her kitchen stove. She could regulate the temperature precisely to a recipe's needed temp to cook & bake. And she never cooked on any other type of stove. Now at 68, I 'm still teaching my daughters as much of the 'old school' ways as they want to learn. And both can cook as well or better than my wife (don't tell her I said that). And she's a a good cook. Bless The Emerald Isle.

[@srikanthmistrisrikanthmist6199]

Plll

[@SkepticalChris]

There is something so visually satisfying about watching how they cut the peat out. That almost always, they are cut in smooth blocks with such perfect rhythm makes it so satisfying to watch.

[@beaglaoich4418]

It has been a process that has destroyed a lot of biodiversity and rare natural habitat in ireland

[@thejiggitygiggity90]

@@beaglaoich4418 Listen, I don't know what kind of nonsense you are reading, but without this work, you wouldn't have a decent life to whinge about it, now beat it and go to California or tel aviv or anywhere else, were you happen to be getting that nonsense from chara

[@chrismullan7191]

As a child in Derry, our fire always had Turf on it, at Christmas time it was just so wonderful to come home from school and that smell of the turf filled the whole house.

[@beaglaoich4418]

Turf is a really awful fuel source and harms the environment by its extraction and being byrned

[@thejiggitygiggity90]

chris mullin there seems to be an annoying little eejit chatting nonsense underneath you called beaglaoich4418 hes chatting nonsense tbf my granda had coal from bheal feirste co. aontroim myself lol

[@DavidCrowe-s4k]

I LOVE that I watched turf for half an hour then pleasantly surprised with more interesting content

[@KatherineUribe-1]

I love this video series. I traveled to Ireland twice, and I love Irish history and cultural. (I, like millions around the world, am of Irish descent.) I love Ireland, and watching these videos fills my heart. Erin go bragh! ☘💚☘

[@PrincessNottingham]

Do you know what Erin go Bragg means? 😀🇮🇪☘

[@ChenkoTheDog]

⁠@@PrincessNottinghamIreland forever or Ireland until doomsday

[@chrishull9983]

I couldn't stop watching this - what a wonderful, albeit hard and honest way to live - I'm left wondering whether we have actually moved forwards since those days - or backwards. Thankyou.

[@thejiggitygiggity90]

Very Honest way to make a living, People don't need crime or political ways to make a living, they just need to get up off their back side and get stuck in, its not pretty, though boy, is it worth it. You may sweat and earn the odd bit of money , here or there, the honest work is the best work imho

[@Treeman196]

I'm English but my father was from a place called ardtresna in sligo .we used to go over a couple of times a year in the 50s and 60s always cut turf and picked spuds you where expected to I loved it

[@isabellaciella1187]

You have been blessed by the good algorithms graces today~

[@ronin472100]

Although I deplore our modern ways and culture, our lives in many ways cannot function without certain technologies... Obviously to go back to the earlier ways of life would be giving up many comforts... It is very possible that Man may be forced to go back, through a cataclysmic event on the Good Earth... I really learned from this very well produced video... Thank You

[@larryconnolly1008]

Thanks for doing this documentary it brought back great memories. My family cut the turf down slane .Larry

[@bradleywalsh4103]

Coming from the island province of Newfoundland in Canada, I was just reminiscing with my mother about a memory, when I was only knee high, of being out cutting turf for the woodstove with family members :-)

[@finnmcginn9931]

Wonderful island full, of good people. One of my favourite places to visit.

[@FedoraSpunk]

Oh my god I'm gonna take a nap, this cured my insomnia

[@ninamorse4677]

Thank you for this video! I learned so much about how you work so hard for what you have! Nina in Southern California.

[@jeanmeslier9491]

I'm 80 years old and got in on the last of the"old days". My Grandparents in rural Texas and my other Grandmother in rural Arkansas (that's Ar-kan-saw) All you people pining for the "good ol'days" have no idea what you are talking about. I have been there; Done that. You couldn't hire me to go back. A very good film. Thank you for posting.

[@updownstate]

My mother was from Arkansas. You learn to put your back into everything from dark to dark with a few hours added on.

[@MatHelm]

What makes them the good ole days was that people didn't have so much free time on their hands to think up crazy crap. And they knew first hand where their life blood came from.

[@updownstate]

@@MatHelm They thought up the KKK, and poll tax.

[@lordjaashin]

keep quiet, boomer. if you don't want to relive old days then don't. don't think for a single second that you can preach to us younger generation. we will relive whatever good old days we want.

[@annroberts3635]

Fascinating. Sorry the old ways are gone but thank you for sharing this video. My spirit is warmed watching these wonderful people, because my

[@beaglaoich4418]

It’s a good thing turf cutting has reduced hopefully never to return

[@kappre5165]

I just came across a video of a man cutting turf and thought its so satisfying to watch then my curiosity hits so I'm here 😁 I live in the tropical country so

[@ralfschaper6731]

I came across this video the same way. It is 85 deg. Outside and just sitting on the couch. I saw them working so hard in the video and thought better them working so hard them me.😂

[@janewrin1830]

The closed captions are hilarious, apparently John bought the turf tractor in 1984 6,000 poems. Good on ye John, best day's work any poet ever had.

[@dimidomo7946]

Exceptional video of the utilitarian and hard working Irish people.

[@garrycane1170]

An absolutely fascinating and informative film. Inspired to visit even more... greetings from the Rheintal, Switzerland.

[@VideosofIrishFarmingLife]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@VallornDeathblade]

My Father's from Antrim and this was really fascinating to watch. Thank you for producing and publishing these important documentaries on classical Irish life!

[@andrewdaley3081]

Type in the word. Hands. on utube you will find lots of uploads on old Irish traditions. Andy England 🇬🇧👍if you have trouble finding it let me know

[@caddycommercials8570]

Me too

[@truckertom3323]

I am so glad that i watched this video, thank you for sharing it. God bless Ireland, and her wonderful people.

[@charlieindigo]

What a superb and informative video. It's more than forty years since I left the oul' country, although I tend to go back every two or three years to soak up the atmosphere and breathe the good country air. I'd love to know when this video was shot, for it seems that much of it was done in the 1960's. I certainly remember what life was like during the 1950's - steam rollers, haystacks, horse-drawn turf and coal carts, domestic swill buckets for the pigs, milk that tasted like milk - with cream top, buttermilk, cheese with rind - oh the list goes on; sadly, and as this video shows, all now long gone. Not all progress has been good!!

[@demos113]

I remember doing a lot of that as a kid, not the actual cutting but all the laying out, footing & stacking that came after.

[@kenquid8091]

I loved this video. The old days was damn hard work. I don't think people today would be able for it. The time and effort would mean they have no time for facebook and twitter and all the other bs people seem to think is important.

[@hortondlfn1994]

Seems to me you just listed a couple of very good reasons for going back to the old days!

[@kenquid8091]

@@hortondlfn1994 I totally agree. What I see on "social media" these days is also FAR from social. Quite the opposite. People have far too much time on their hands these days and spend it on social media which in turn fills their head with crap and hatred. Technology can be an amazing tool but it can also be the devils tool. Give me the old days every time.

[@johnmccormick8159]

This is wonderful. I have fond childhood memories of sitting around a turf fire (something completely unknown in the US) with cousins in Antrim. The beekeeping segment was very informative. Cheers from Alaska.

[@VideosofIrishFarmingLife]

Thanks for the comment John.. Yeah there's nothing like a turf fire. Glad you enjoyed the video, Chris

[@born2soon]

I was told if you're considering going into the beekeeping business only do so if you've been in it 15 years already.

[@leatcanned]

In the Usa, there is a similar thing that was done in Oregon and Nevada, it's originally Of Irish origin supposedly, they call it pucking, where you use the wet soaked soil of the Below the water level in the soggy lands as horse, bull or goat sties, every summer you strip it of the top 3 inches roll it into a mat and make 12-inch pucks out f them, they were typically used to start fires and for foundation coverings.

[@updownstate]

This was fascinating. I never had any idea what peat is and this video is so informative. Subscribed.

[@Andyroohigg]

Having recently moved back to the south west of Ireland, with my Irish Mother. despite the ban, we are fortunate enough to have access to turf via close family. With a few bog days now under my belt. You fully appreciate how vital it is to a large part of Ireland still. If your lucky enough to take a break for a few moments. for anyone who enjoys the general outdoors, it truly is one of the most beautiful environments to spend the day in. i understand the future may well be leaning towards renewable energy however, until a suitable substitute at an affordable price can be found. I'll hopefully still be spending a few more days at the bog yet.

[@ph-vf5hx]

It takes millions of years to form, so once it's gone, as far as we're d concerned, it's gone for good

[@rossclarke8028]

It's not a complete ban, if your land has a turf bank on it you can burn away. The intention was to stop the use of turf fired powerstations

[@danwebb4418]

God bless the Turf cutter ..

[@jamesheagney7926]

Thanks for sharing , this will be of huge interest to the future generations. I spent many years doing this backbreaking but enjoyable work - if the weather is kind!

[@refusedross4113]

I'm not Irish, but see the cultural rural roots of my (American) European ancestors in this documentary. There is much honor and the continuaty of civiliazation carried forward as a whole by the agricultural knowledge of the people portrayed in this film. No food no, civilization. Peace.

[@bondee5865]

Very revealing to the lifestyle of most families just a couple of generations ago! These films are very appreciated; we have learned so much. I enjoyed reading the contribution of the comments as well. . Thank you Videos of Irish Farming Life. .

[@VideosofIrishFarmingLife]

You're welcome, Glad you are getting something from our videos and thanks for dropping a comment, they really help the channel grow..

[@bondee5865]

Thank you again🙂

[@MartinsGarage97]

My father (who past in July) use to tell us how much he hated doing this job. I was brought up in the states, so I can't imagine heating a home like this. Also, my parents settled in Oregon, so wood is extremely inexpensive, even though we had gas heat, my parents still loved their fire. We were told to put a sweater on if we were cold 🤣.

[@cottagemommy5116]

Enjoyed this very much. Please keep producing these, so we can learn more about our roots. You never know, we may have to go back to some of these things someday.

[@VideosofIrishFarmingLife]

Thanks for the comment.. We will be uploading more videos like this in the future so please subscribe and keep an eye on the channel for new uploads. Chris

[@cottagemommy5116]

@Carolluke1 There's good and bad to that. But I confess I'd like to try it- preferably not under traumatic circumstances though.

[@beaglaoich4418]

@@cottagemommy5116 god forbid we go back to destroying our unique and amazing peatland. We are now trying to pay people to undo the destruction and havoc brought on by this

[@lisaclark1181]

This was a lovely video to watch. A good month in Ireland is on my bucket list and now I'd like to visit a working farm. Thank you!

[@fantail7214]

What a fantastic little doco.

[@stellayates4227]

I remember visiting relatives in the country near Galway as a small child and I absolutely loved the smell of burning turf.

[@anvilbrunner.2013]

I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this video. You always knew where you were coming home with the smell of a turf fire.

[@beaglaoich4418]

I can’t smell it without thinking of the fact it is absolutely ruining our ecosystem in ireland

[@anvilbrunner.2013]

@@beaglaoich4418 Commercial turf cutting ought be banned. If it was still families seeing to their own supply, from their own stretch of bog, then it'd be part of the eco system.

[@131dyana]

Loved this thank you very much.

[@EtherealOde]

Thank you for giving me a look at how my ancestors lived in the past. My grandparents told me the stories they had heard from their parents and grandparents. This was almost like a time travel for me listening to them telling me the stories again.

[@rockykoast7065]

Delightful to be educated on turf-cuttig and rural life! (From an ex-teacher brought up in the industrial north of England! - though I did many other jobs too...the first job being tater-picking when I was about 10).

[@jamessmith7691]

This was a great video. Not much of Ireland comes across my path. I like old farming and factory machinery. Thank you for posting .

[@born2soon]

A wonderful video! Thank you!

[@veronicaquinn2578]

Wonderful, thank you so much. Please keep these videos coming.

[@susanjaeger5645]

It's lovely to see how my people lived. 💜💖

[@KowboyUSA]

Worked in my father's parents highland peat bog when I was a kid. Interesting seeing how it's done back over there.

[@finallythere100]

That sounds very interesting! I wonder what they do if it rained? I assume they had no tarp covering..

[@christopherkenny3488]

Very good 👍

[@sugarfalls1]

Look at how green and moist that land is. That comes from a lot of rain! Beautiful stuff! Hard working people!

[@benfried3745]

Nice video. The turf cutting was very interesting. Country and farming people are the best anywhere one goes in this world. Maybe I'm biased

[@colingoode3702]

This takes me back to the one & only time I visited my grandfather who lived in Mountmellick Co Laois. I used to watch my dad's sister cook my grandfathers breakfast on a peat fired stove. Different times. Once things get back a more normal way of life I plan to travel back to Ireland to re-visit my roots.

[@beaglaoich4418]

I hope you come and have a wonderful time. Though can I ask that you don’t cut turf when you’re here? It’s destroying the Irish ecosystem and has lots of harmful effects for people as well as nature

[@safetymikeengland]

Great Video. I enjoyed learning about peat-cutting and burning. And, the story about where the Dexter cattle came from was something I had never heard about.

[@rabbitskinner]

We're a tough old race, I'm so proud of my Irish heritage

[@dieselphiend]

Where did your people come from before Ireland?

[@marcusp905]

@@dieselphiend Wales =)

[@dieselphiend]

@@marcusp905 Not.

[@rambunctiousduck9072]

"I'M 1/50,000th Irish", nice man

[@skitzochik]

@@dieselphiend why do you have to be negative? youre such a know it all why dont you endulge us ...

[@Cypher791]

Well i live in scotland and.. typical of the modern man i knew nothing at all about this tradition but i am totally fascinated with this documentay now, thanks for sharing.

[@beaglaoich4418]

Trust me you’re better off for it. It destroys a really important habitat in our countries

[@Drewsky840]

Warms my Irish blood to watch this

[@Rosco-P.Coldchain]

I remember visiting my grandfather’s farm in Longford in the 80s..I remember marching across his pete bogs to bring the cows in at 4 am and seeing these little stacks everywhere..I learned a lot about my roots when I visited..Love from Leeds..❤ I still remember his lifelong friend and neighbour who was then 90 still lived with no electricity or running water…I hope to return home one day for good

[@LTPottenger]

Beautiful birds and little black cows, too.

[@aaronosheaarchery]

I'm so glad I've found this channel. Reminds me of home.

[@richardwilliams1334]

I have a garden in Peete soils. Never have I thought to do as this program shows with the Peete soils. My Peete garden grows the largest strawberries I've ever seen anywhere. About the size of a tennis ball. The melons also grown in the same area their average weight is between 12kg and 14kg and they are often much sweeter then brought stock perhaps because they are given more time to ripen about 90 days from seed to fruit. Thank you for sharing the lives of my Irish ancestors of yesterday. Today I have always lived here in NZ.

[@beaglaoich4418]

Please don’t buy moss peat for gardens it’s really bad for the planet

[@squigmcguigan8965]

Very informative indeed. Regarding turf cutting. I'm exhausted, just watching.

[@BoxxerCore]

There is no more pleasant smelling fuel source than the burning of Irish turf & peat. My family moved from Letterkenny, Co Donegal to Glasgow in the 60s, and my gran would go back to visit every year and bring back a few bricks of turf to burn in a miniature ornament of an Irish cottage. You put a little piece of turf in the side door and when it burned the smoke came out the little chimney on top, reminded her of the smells of her homeland.

[@plantnerdguy]

very interesting and varied subjects, thanks. I want to go and live in Ireland for a little while now

[@bigtoelittlefinger6133]

I have just remembered when I was a wee guys we stumble upon a peat bed when we wer digging up the hills I am going to go back up the hill and dig me some peat..much love fae bonnie Scotland

[@GoldGalahad]

Thanks so much, this was a wonderful video and I learned so much. Well done!

[@Discover-Ireland]

Brilliant and yes the old days were the best

[@EricK-Outdoorz]

I fondly remember the last time I was in Ireland. As we would near each village, we would come upon the sweet, almost incense-like odor of the peat burning in the various dwellings. It was not unlike the smell of burning leaves, which I suppose makes perfect sense. :-)

[@XS65080]

Used to love cutting turf when I was younger.

[@dallyjacobson2146]

Fantastic program

[@irishcoffee6894]

Great to see this "old way" of Irish farming. Not so much different as farming in the Netherlands in those years.

[@Iamhome365]

My mother, brothers and I would head down to the bog every year after the turf was cut and start footing it. Long days, mam would bring a big picnic and baby brother would be under a makeshift tent to keep him out of the sun. Showed my children how to foot turf last year

[@craigdutton6072]

That was a good little show 😎

[@shervin6711]

Fascinating!

[@demanisrecks2049]

Once in awhile you click on something and You find a Jewel. Thank You

[@Khamomil]

I've wondered for a long time how peat was extracted and processed and finally found the answer in this excellent documentary. In France where I live there were also peat bogs where country people obtained their fuel and it was said to be hard work, the bricks were set out to dry but no more details were provided. I've learned from other sources that peat gives off a special scent when it burns and this makes me want to try it.

[@beaglaoich4418]

Please please don’t try it. You are destroying a rare and amazing habitat in peat lands by doing so

[@thejiggitygiggity90]

@@beaglaoich4418 beat it beag will ye

[@beaglaoich4418]

@@thejiggitygiggity90 I’m good thanks bud, just letting people know how interesting and significant areas like this are

[@maureenmmcdermott9728]

My cousins husband John made this he was an amazing guy . Rip ❤️

[@bangkokbaby]

amazing history video 10/10

[@davidnyc487]

We still use tuff cutting machines in the west of Ireland today 2022.

[@taraalan1131]

They’re still cutting the turf in the South West but it’s a procession of cars carrying the turf back from the bog. I love the smell of the turf burning.

[@beaglaoich4418]

It’s really really bad the day people stop cutting turf will be a good day

[@deshaunjackson8188]

I remember my late father used to always say "I hate this fookin Island! When it's not raining, it's snowing, and when it's not snowing, it's raining!" He had a way with the words😅

[@marywrigjt7614]

Very informative 👍👍.

[@mezroth]

The old days were the best

[@MrDorbel]

Well I learned a lot there, thank you so much, very well done.

[@Pho7on]

This was randomly recommended to me. The only things I know about Irish culture is from Derry Girls. This is the sort of thing I would have *hated* watching as a child. But for some reason, this is at once intensely interesting and relaxing to watch.

[@bluegtturbo]

My family cut turf by hand for years up to the 80s. Nothing more than labour intensive hardship. But we had to keep ourselves warm during the winter.. Very few houses had central heating back then!

[@SgtSnausages]

This was amazeballz. Thanks!

[@born2soon]

My sister and I had hoped to visit County Roscommon and look into our McMannis past next year. Let's hope maybe the next year...

[@VideosofIrishFarmingLife]

Thanks for the comment, yeah lets hope things get back to normal and you can enjoy your trip to Ireland..

[@SavedTraveler-1975]

This is one of the reasons Irishmen are badass. Look at the backs on these over the hill age gents!!

[@Nickle314]

3-4 days to get your heating for a year is very productive. Compared to what it takes to get a year's worth of wood.

[@ladylaois8184]

When I was a very young girl in the 1960s I remember getting turf for my Granny in Rathdowney

[@beaglaoich4418]

Please don’t use turf it’s terrible heat source and bad for the environment

[@jimlarsen6782]

Very interesting. It supports my belief that the irish are not all sitting in pubs singing as portrayed in travel shows. A lot of a country's wealth is based on its mineral and plant resources. I always thought of ireland as nothing but grass, just as my state is mostly cedar and sage brush. Maybe a vid about horses would round out your story.

[@matthewfarmer6830]

Great stuff, thanks for sharing 👍

[@JimmyRagZ]

Went to one of the places on a school trip years ago, after a lesson in cuttin turf we got to jump into the bog... It kinda looked like a big open overfilled septic tank, we came home covered in the stuff

[@michael7423]

I love the docile Dexter cattle, they are becoming popular on small homestead farms in the US these days. I’m intrigued by the other cows mentioned here!

[@SilencedButNotForgotten]

Wonderful video!

[@dylan3657]

happy days on the bog with Michael Tim Connelly and the donkey and baskets bringing the turf over to the road. bottle of tea kept warm in a wool sock so lucky to have this as part of life., and i was lucky to have honey still in the comb eat the whole lot fresh the dennis healey's farm

[@sicksideworldwide1599]

Can't beat the smell of a turf fire it's the smell of victory 💪

[@sicksideworldwide1599]

@Bertie Bollocks the bog will always replenish so it's a never ending battle

[@beaglaoich4418]

Bog can’t replenish if you keep digging it out it’s ruining the peatlands

[@johnthompson9444]

Great stuff!

[@VideosofIrishFarmingLife]

Thanks

[@cyrilforde7925]

Llc

[@parttimetourist]

I was born and raised in Ireland and cutting turf is an ancient art and not many know how to cut it correctly People in Ireland have been using Turf long before coal even before the Lagan Canal was made for coal delivery Those were the days of the Turf Cutter, The Roof Thatcher and the Chimney Sweep