Thieves steal turf from rural Galway bogs

Criminal gangs are stealing turf from isolated bogs across Galway – smashing a trust that has existed in rural areas through the generations.

And while the value of these thefts doesn’t compare to that of stolen farm machinery or even domestic oil, it is the breaking of that community bond that has devastated the owners more than anything else.

Local farm leaders believe that the organised gangs are from outside the county – but, as IFA County Chairman Pat Murphy put it, they “clearly had their homework done”.

The most recent reported theft occurred last week from the privately-owned Feartagar bog in the Castlegrove area of North Galway.

Tyre tracks at the scene reveal the vehicle used to transport stolen goods got stuck in the mud whilst culprits attempted to get away.

Farmers assert the vehicle would have been towed or alternatively pushed out – which would require a high level of manpower.

Their actions created even more work for the farmer, and victim of crime, who then had to hoe and level the earth, following the incident.

The second incident happened last week, between Friday evening and noon on Saturday, when a neighbour of the first farmer, who previously joked ‘your turf must be better, they didn’t touch mine’ – only to return to his bog to find his turf was also snatched.

In both cases, a car trailer of turf was estimated to be taken – but this time thieves learned their lesson, and did not attempt driving in too far on the damp ground the second time around.

The landowner believes they bagged his turf and carried it to a vehicle parked on the ‘boreen’ leading into the bog.

The financial loss to the farmers isn’t crippling, but it’s the lack of trust and loss of security that they say has caused the biggest upset.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.