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Environment
Jun 24, 2026
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Documenting Ireland's Vanishing Boglands: 'They Hold Millennia in Their Layers'

AI Summary
Photographer Shane Hynan documents Ireland's disappearing boglands, which contain millennia of history but are rapidly vanishing due to extraction, afforestation, and changing economic conditions. These unique ecosystems, which cover 14-17% of Ireland's land area, are a finite resource that may largely disappear within two decades.

The Vanishing Archives of Irish History

"You can read Ireland's history in the boglands. They hold millennia in their layers," says photographer Shane Hynan of his project, Beofhód (meaning Beneath in English). The boglands, known as portachs in Irish, cover roughly 1.2m to 1.5m hectares or about 14% to 17% of the country's total land area. The raised bogs of the Irish Midlands are made of peat that forms at a rate of 1mm a year (0.04in) in low-lying, poorly drained basins or former lakes.

A Landscape Etched Deep into Irish Identity

As the historical geographer Kevin Whelan observes in the Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape, "the bog has been etched as deeply into the human as into the physical record in Ireland – to an extent unrivalled elsewhere." These unique ecosystems have shaped Irish culture, economy, and environment for centuries, containing layers of history that tell the story of the island's geological and human development.

The Environmental Crisis of Peatland Loss

Ireland contains 8% of the world's blanket bogs – made of the remains of grasses and sedges, and found along the west coast's mountainous areas – yet data from An Phríomh-Oifig Staidrimh (Ireland's Central Statistics Office) revealed that more than 80% of the original peatland has been lost to extraction, afforestation, horticulture and/or agriculture. "I reckon in 20 years … a lot will be gone," says Hynan. "It's a finite resource."

The Economic Transition of Turf Cutting

For generations, turf from the bog was dried and cut into blocks, forming the primary fuel for rural households. Households using turf may spend up to €800 a year on heating, less than a quarter of the average Irish household's annual energy bill. "It's very, very cheap fuel. They can control the quality and quantity of it; you can't really do that with anything else," Hynan says. However, the economic viability of turf cutting has diminished significantly in recent years.

Documenting a Disappearing Landscape

Hynan first became fascinated by the boglands after an extended period of living abroad. "I'd gone from being an insider to an outsider. When I came home, I noticed how much the bogs had changed. In a good way, I saw fewer men cutting. In a bad way, I saw no money in the work any more." His photographic project aims to capture the beauty and significance of these landscapes before they disappear forever.

The Future of Ireland's Boglands

As Ireland faces the dual challenges of climate change and preserving cultural heritage, the future of its boglands remains uncertain. While traditional turf cutting has declined, the bogs continue to face threats from various forms of land use. Conservation efforts may need to balance preservation with sustainable use, recognizing both the environmental importance of these ecosystems and their cultural significance to Irish communities.