Written by : Adam Nolan and Ben Keady
In the quiet landscape of County Carlow, Drummin Bog is undergoing a transformation,
a slow and careful restoration that’s as much about reclaiming a community’s heritage
as it is about regenerating the land. This is a story about the hard work of local
volunteers, the curious eyes of schoolchildren, and the memories of those who have
known the bog for generations.
The journey began with a simple question: “What can we do?” It wasn’t a question
asked by corporations trying to make a quick buck, but by locals gathered around
kitchen tables, concerned about the draining peat and the dwindling wildlife. So, they
set out to understand the bog’s issues and attempt to restore it to its former glory as a
living, breathing part of their community.
“You’d walk out there, and it just felt…empty,” recalls local resident, Eileen, with a
sense of disappointment in her voice. “The birds weren’t singing like they used to, and
the ground was hard and cracked. It was like watching a friend fade away.”
Their investigation led them to faded photographs of the original bog and old stories of
peat cutting and drainage schemes. They learned how the bog, once a vital resource,
had been slowly drained and exploited, its delicate ecosystem thrown out of balance.
“We discovered that the scars on the land were also scars on our community,” said
volunteer, Patrick, a hopeful environmental journalist. “We had to understand the past
to heal the present. “As an attempt to restore the bog volunteers constructed intricate networks of peat
dams, mimicking the natural landscape and terrain of a healthy bog. They experimented
with different techniques to re-wet the land, learning from the bog itself how to restore
its natural flow.
The bog became a community wide collaborative project where anecdotal stories met
modern science. Older generations shared their understanding of the bog’s original
landscape while ecologists explained the intricate processes of carbon sequestration
and biodiversity. Primary school students became mini scientists, monitoring water
levels, identifying plant species, and documenting the return of wildlife. “It wasn’t just
about fixing the bog,” explains teacher, Liam. “It was about fostering a sense of
connection, showing them that they were part of something bigger than themselves.”
The community’s advertising efforts were as crucial as their restoration work. They
organised bog walks, inviting visitors to experience the unique beauty of the landscape.
They created art exhibitions, showcasing the bog’s textures and colours. They used
social media to share stories of the returning wildlife, the vibrant bog, and the
determined volunteers. “We wanted to show people that the bog wasn’t just a muddy
wasteland,” says volunteer, Aoife. “It was a place of beauty, a place of life, a place of
hope.”
The restoration of Drummin Bog became a symbol of resilience, a testament to the
power of community action. It’s a story of how a group of ordinary people, armed with
passion and determination, can make a significant difference to tackle environmental
challenges.
As the water slowly seeps back into the peat, Drummin Bog is beginning to breathe
again. The birds are returning, their songs echoing across the restored landscape and in
the heart of Carlow, a community is rediscovering its connection to the land, one step
at a time. The bog is not just being restored but is also restoring a sense of community.
This restoration serves as a powerful reminder of how deeply connected human lives
are with the natural world. It’s not just about the return of the natural landscape or the
resurgence of wildlife, but about the rebirth of a shared identity, rooted in the very soil
of Drummin Bog.
The project has become a focal point for social interaction, a place
where stories are shared, and knowledge is passed down through generations.
Children, once disconnected from the natural environment, are now learning to identify
native plants and understand the delicate balance of the bog’s ecosystem. Adults, who
once saw the bog as a resource to be exploited, are now sharing their wisdom about its
traditional uses and its ecological importance. This shared endeavour has fostered a
sense of community, strengthening the bonds between neighbours and creating a
renewed sense of belonging. The bog, once a symbol of neglect, has become a source
of pride, a testament to the community’s resilience and its commitment to healing the
land.
The restoration of Drummin Bog is a story of transformation, not just of a
landscape, but of a community, finding its voice and its purpose in the heart of nature.
While there is still lots to do, it’s fair to say the community around Drummin Bog have
made a huge step towards ecosystem regeneration. They’ve managed to turn a dying,
derelict wasteland into a thriving, diverse landscape, working to restore the bog to its
natural state, simultaneously developing a sense of community pride.