Mountbellew bog swap makes history

By TONY GALVIN A BOG-SWAP scheme which has just been launched in Mountbellew may become the template for the rest of the country and help defuse the ongoing stand-off between the Government and the EU and turf cutters. The first major bog swap of its kind was launched in Mountbellew on Thursday last when turf cutters who decided not to take a compensation deal on offer, moved from their bogs in an Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to Killasolan bog, owned by Bord na Móna. The swap came at the end of a prolonged and often torturous negotiation period and although many of those involved have expressed satisfaction with the new deal, terming it the best they could expect under the circumstances,  few are entirely happy over the move itself. Local TD Paul Connaughton Jnr described it as a bitter-sweet reaction. Turf cutters were happy that they could continue to harvest their turf for many years to come but unhappy to be leaving bogs where they and generations of their families have worked. Deputy Connaughton and his father, ex-TD Paul Snr were central to the negotiation process and the Connaughtons are one of the families moving to the new bog. Paul Snr told those gathered at the launch that he was allowed cut turf in the new bog for the next 65 years and to the cheers from his appreciative neighbours, he said he hoped to he'd be around to see the end of it. One bog veteran who attended the ceremony told The Herald that he had decided to take the compensation as he felt he might soon be past cutting his own turf. However, he was delighted to see the tradition being carried on in the locality and hoped to call down for the odd day on the bog with his friends and neighbours, just to keep his hand in. Deputy Paul Connaughton Jnr said at the launch: 'This afternoon, turf-bank owners from Carrownagappul and Rushestown bogs met at their new bog at Killasolan, Mountbellew. Work is currently underway on the Bord na Móna-owned bog to ensure that it is ready for turf cutting next year. Earlier today the local turf-bank owners went along to view the work and see the area where they will be spreading their turf in 2013.' See also Page 9