Project will restore 1,800 acres of blanket bog in north Mayo
THE restoration of 1,800 acres of blanket bog in north Mayo will yield significant positive environmental results.
Merlin Rock blanket bog is located four kilometres from Bangor Erris and was purchased back in 2021 by businessman Joe Devine who decided to 'do something good for the planet'.
Drain blockage is taking place to restore the degraded, drained peatland, reversing the leakage of carbon emissions - it's currently leaking about 2,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year. It will also have signifcantly positive effects on habitats.
The works will not adversely impact adjoining lands, which are predominantly blanket bogland too.
While in private ownership and privately funded, he is working with Bord na Mona, as well as Mayo County Council and National Parks and Wildlife Service, to bring the project to fruition, local councillors at a Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting were told in a presentation by Mr. Devine and David McNicholas of Bord na Mona.
His personal journey began back in 2017, while doing the Bangor Trail, when he became aware of 1,800 acres for sale, said Mr. Devine. Nothing happened then but following a call in 2021, he decided to buy the bog and the restoration has followed.
Restoration began in September 2024. Every five years the impact of the benefits of the drain blocking will be reviewed.
Councillor Gerry Coyle wondered about big companies buying up land for carbon credits and was told this is a private project.
He commented on local projects, such as wind energy and gas, where it's all exported, and he was 'disillusioned'. The local people needed some benefits.
Councillor Peter Flynn said they needed more of this and commended Mr. Devine for taking a proactive role in putting something back into the environment.
It would bring huge benefits and he hoped the project will be replicated around the country to try and counteract what is a global climate crisis.
Profit to be made on the lands was questioned by Councillor Johnny O'Malley, who was told by Mr. Devine that he wasn't doing for this profit.
This is the largest restoration project in the country in private hands and already there has been a lot of research benefits, and he was happy to explore if there was to be a community or educational benefit when the blockage works are done.
Councillor Chis Maxwell made the point that in the next five to 10 years a lot of bogs in the west of Ireland will be going back to nature as turf cutting is 'on the way out'. The generation coming next want nothing to do with it.
It is an 'interesting' project, said Councillor Paul McNamara, who noted how once upon a time grants came from the EU to reclaim land. Now the law is that it may go back to bogland again.