Story of the Bogs - Part 1 - with John Feehan

In this first of a 4 part series John Feehan sets out the story of the Midland Raised bogs over the past 12,000 years.
This episode was part funded by the Keep Well campaign 2020, an initiative of the Government of Ireland with funding from the Healthy Ireland Fund and the Sláintecare Fund delivered by Pobal.
Written and presented by John Feehan. Filmed by Tina Claffey and edited by Christiaan Feehan.
Additional imagery: Tina Claffey, Rachel McKenna, Rhoda Jennings, Pete Coxon, Matthew Carney, Bernard Kaye, Fraser Mitchell, Edwina Cole, Caitriona Devery, Mike McKenzie (cuckoo image, Wikimedia), John Beniston (newt image, Wikimedia).
With thanks also to The Wildflowers of Offaly Team , Michael O’Connell NUIG and Mark Lynch

[@carrutc2]

What a fantastic idea for a series !

[@christiaan83]

p.p. John Feehan: thanks carrutc2, just finishing Episode 2 should be up mid-August.

[@kevinprice7362]

I'm very happy I found your video.
Thank you so much.
Kevin price. 😅

[@karenmahon8082]

Really would be delighted to see John Feehan do a series on on the geological history of Ireland and educate the whole country - it would really help to stop destruction of bogland and encourage it’s restoration

[@christiaan83]

I'd love to do it myself Karen, it remains a long-term ambition so you never know! pp John Feehan

[@teamcrumb]

so happy to find your channel. these videos are fantastic, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us

[@rachelmackarel1235]

Fab resource! Can't wait to watch all the videos

[@trevormadden4301]

thanks john

[@amandajstar]

Fascinating: thank you!

[@lindal8397]

wow! really interesting

[@NousSavons]

Well done, maith sibh

[@gaz8891]

Oh that was great, thank you. Really nicely presented. So the bog was made of 4 parts, the sticky gray clay and 3 layers on top of this made up of animal & plant remains. First, the freshwater snails & limey stonewort which form the white 'marl', then a peat layer made of fibrous swampy reed beds, and then another peat layer of the birch & alder wood (we call this type of wet woodland, alder carr). A good explanation of the natural succession of plant communities in the post-glacial lakes of central Ireland !

[@dervlamurphy1236]

Fascinating

[@karta8436]

Lovely video. Very interesting to learn about bogs

[@philliporion9709]

Very much enjoyed this, and found it very informative, look forward to the next two.

[@offalyheritage]

Thank you Philip.

[@christiaan83]

p.p. John Feehan: thank you Phillip, we were out on Derrinlough yesterday filming Episode 2.

[@giggitygoo515]

Hi John, there is a brick kiln still standing on the outskirts of ferbane where the gallen brick was made. It sits on the banks of the Brosna river. Really interesting series, thank you for taking the time to make these videos.

[@offalyheritage]

Do send in a location and a photo please to [e-mail]

[@aislingmcconville9733]

Absolutely fascinating. Thank you so much.

[@AndriyAndriyAndriy]

Really interesting, thanks

[@MultimediaIreland]

Amazing how such nutrient rich peat can lay upon such poor clay. I love walking the highland bogs, great to get some insight into their formation, although I guess they're a different story, but closely similar.

[@christiaan83]

p.p. John Feehan: Yes John, this is the story of the Raised bogs, your blanket bog is quite different but no less fascinating.

[@michaelroche6181]

Its not nutrient rich. Thats why it has insectiverous plants. The peat moss you buy in shops has nutrient added.

[@MultimediaIreland]

@@michaelroche6181 It is compared to that gray clay, but I get your point. Peat moss is good at holding nutrients.

[@helenyoung8012]

Thank you, much enjoyed.look forward to the rest of the series.

[@christiaan83]

p.p. John Feehan: we're thrilled with the response Helen, Episode 2 coming mid-August.

[@vicwilson5861]

Very interesting. I look forward to the rest of the series.

[@christiaan83]

p.p. John Feehan: was out filming for Episode 2 only yesterday Vic, should be ready mid-August.

[@subscription9]

Super stuff.

[@janeannabeleades8193]

North Devon named a claypit village after the marl, Peters Marland, whose yellow bricks are disliked by builders for being hard to stick together, resulting in ever leaky chimneys and lintels. As flooring [paviours] they are preserved in some farm buildings.

[@realemolga6306]

Very interesting!

[@galwaywool2406]

Fantastic informative piece. Well done 👍

[@christiaan83]

p.p. John Feehan: thank you Blathnid!

[@MrNeutross]

Really interesting!

[@eileenlocke7877]

Interesting thank u

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

Release the beaver. Build aquifers not reservoirs. Health forest make healthy river flows. More of steady level over the year. Rather than big flash flows blowing out the bottoms.

[@gaz8891]

Good idea. But were there beavers in Ireland before ?

[@devonthemaskeddevonaire9471]

hi john, are you a feehan from cashel ??? my mum was margaret feehan and lived in main street .

[@geogeo3644]

bogchamp

[@janosszentpeteri1922]

marl is a type of clay. Let the beavers play their part.