Boglands Oral History Project

Join us on October 25th at The Common Knowledge Centre, from 2 - 3.30 pm, for an afternoon of stories and song!

This past year, folklorist Dáithí Ó Reilly has been getting to know our landscape the slow way, through the people who know it best. As part of our Peatlands in Practice project, and alongside restoration work we have been doing on the ground, Dáithí has spent the year sitting down with neighbours and local folks across Clare, recording their memories of time spent on the bog, and of how the land has changed over time. 

On Sunday afternoon, those recordings get their first public airing.

Join us at the Common Knowledge Centre for an afternoon of listening, storytelling and community reflection, closing with traditional music and song. 

About Dáithí
Dáithí studied Irish Folklore at University College Cork and has collected for the Cork Folklore Project. Since moving to Clare, he has been gathering first-hand accounts from the people who live and work in this landscape.

What is the 'Peatlands in Practice' project?

Peatlands in Practice is our new, community-led peatland restoration project! Based at our 50 acres site here at The Common Knowledge centre in Kilfenora, County Clare. 

This project empowers people to take meaningful action. Through practical workshops, interactive tours, collaborations and culture events, participants gain the skills and confidence they need to make a real difference on both a personal and community scale. Over the next 6 months, we will work with ecologists, educators, cultural practitioners, and local communities to restore degraded peatland habitats through hands-on ecosystem restoration education, and together we will learn how to appreciate the beauty of bogs and the importance of restoring them.

This project invites people to take part directly in peatland restoration, reconnecting with the living landscapes shaped by both nature and culture.
Completely free-of-charge and open to all backgrounds and experience levels, this project encourages participants to take what they learn and share it with their communities, creating a positive ripple effect of environmental action.

We look forward to welcoming you to an afternoon of exploration, education, and community connection!