Fine Black Turf

Cottage Academy

It’s been a difficult week. Here’s something that might warm your hearts.

I found out by accident the cottage farmhouse came with Turbary rights - ancient access to cut turf in a nearby bog. During the sale, the solicitor advised me not to exercise this right in order not to step on toes locally. In contrast, neighbours were full of tips and advice on how to navigate the turf-cutting and once again, rowed in to help with the job.  

This delightful traditional ritual rewards in ways I can’t even explain. The wealth comes not just in the resulting warmth; but through the summer evenings spent outside carving connections with previous generations that have turned and footed turf in this same bog, long before my arrival.

This is the first year I’ll be footing turf without my beloved pup Ralphy. But it seems he, or at least some other canine visitor, has been up there to have a sniff around none the less.

This is a radio documentary I made about The Turf and the Cottage back in 2020, when we were setting up a little radio station above in the XPO (ex post office) over the road in Kilnaboy. You know what put a stop to that unfortunately.

This is Ralph (left) and his buddy Molly helping foot the turf in years gone by.

*Thanks to those that support my work - buy a bag of turf here :)