I have long maintained that the histories of Irish waterways and of Irish bogs are inseparable. Here is an interesting piece from the invaluable Kildare Online Electronic History Journal [o si sic omnes] about turf-cutting competitions at Allenwood in 1934. A lanky old sod was present, but so too were relics of old dacency [and see here for the origin of the phrase with interesting links between hats and sashes], perhaps anxious to accommodate themselves to the new regime. [Major de Courcy Wheeler, whose command of the First Official Language was undoubtedly enviable, is mentioned here.]
Waterways, industrial heritage, economic history, social and political history … they are not to be separated.
Filed under: Ashore, Economic activities, Engineering and construction, Extant waterways, Industrial heritage, Ireland, Non-waterway, Operations, People, Politics, Sources, The turf trade, waterways Tagged: Allenwood, canal, de Courcy Wheeler, de Valera, Grand Canal, Ireland, long fellow, politics, Robertstown, waterways
