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Environment and Heritage Service

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Notes:

Site focussing on all aspects of peatlands including their history. n Ireland peatlands are a characteristic part of the landscape and over the years have been used for a variety of purposes. Peatland mammals, birds and wild berries would have provided a source of food for the Stone Age people who arrived in Ireland 6,000 years agoas shown by the many archaeological sites throughout Ireland. The Stone Age people also brought livestock to Ireland and would probably have utilised peatlands for grazing, a practice that continues today on upland bogs. In Ireland the first written records of peat being used as a source of fuel date back to the 7th century but evidence suggests that peat was being used before then. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries a number of alternative uses for peat were developed including the manufacture of wrapping paper and postcards from peat fibre. In general the lower layers of peatlands yielded peat which was used for fuel. The upper layers, of raised bogs in particular, were used to produce peat moss which had a number of uses.

SHIC codes:

2,2.3,2.31,4,4.2,4.21,4.211

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