Homes facing big fuel bills as bogs cut off by wet weather

Date Published: 08-Aug-2012

By Declan Tierney

While controversy has been raging over the turf cutting ban on eight raised bogs across County Galway, it has been something of a miserable time for those who are entitled to cut turf . . . all because of the weather.

And it means that thousands of households across the county are facing huge fuel bills this winter if the weather does not improve significantly.

The wet July has resulted in some bogs being inaccessible and it is not uncommon for footings of turf to be submerged in several inches of water.

Many of those who have cut turf have already conceded that they will not be able to access banks that would take several weeks of dry weather to become accessible again.

Those who cut and saved turf in the earlier months of the year were very fortunate compared to those who had hoped to save and bring home their supply during the summer.

Their plans have gone ‘pear-shaped’ as July was one of the wettest months on record and incredibly frustrating for those who had hoped to save their winter’s supply of turf.

Galway IFA Chairman, Michael Flynn told The Connacht Tribune that the bad weather was going to cost householders very dearly this autumn and winter and particularly as home heating oil and gas was getting so expensive.

He described some bogs across County Galway as “no go areas” because of the heavy rainfalls and believed that many households would not be able to recover some of the turf that has been put standing.

“There are footings in some bogs that are currently under water and unless there is a serious change in the weather, this will be lost.

“Some banks of turf are even inaccessible with a wheelbarrow which does not augur well for the chances of it being recovered unless there is a continuous spell of good weather,” Mr. Flynn added.

A combination of rising oil costs and our poor exchange rate are having a huge impact on international fuel prices which is why turf remains one of the cheapest sources of fuel and why many households are dependent on it.

Read more in today’s Connacht Tribune