School: St Peter's, Phibsboro
- Location:
- Phibsborough, Co. Dublin
- Teacher: Ss. Breathnach
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0799, Page 199
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- XML School: St Peter's, Phibsboro
- XML Page 199
- XML “Mud Turf”
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- Up to the 30 years ago "Mud" Turf was a very common form of fuel in the Broomfield district. Lack of systematic drainage has largely accounted for the decay of this industry. Many of the one time profitable bogs are now huge swamps always almost impassable except in dry weather.The "making" of turf was looked upon as an outstanding day in the farmer's year. The farmer with the help of the "mud man" as they were called dug a rectangular pit varying in depth from two to five feet. The peat was well broken up with spades and graips and rendered as fine as possible. Water was added and when the proper consistency was acquired the mud was shovelled out on the adjacent back. Usually six or seven men were employed in the pit. They were barefooted and up to their knees in the mud. Four were shovelling out and two were engaged in "mixing". The barrow men held their barrows in an inclined position lengthwise on the edge of the pit while they were being filled by the shovellers. The mud was wheeled off towards the far end of the bank and then spread out to a depth of eighteen inches. Women then "baked" the mud, they stood in their bare feet in the thick layer and with their hands fashioned out the shape of the turf. They cut tracks with their hands, vertically and horizontally to a depth of about two inches and then "arched" the top of the turf with(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Séamus Breathnach
- Gender
- Male
