Surrounding boglands

Clonava

The people of this area made their living by cutting, rearing and selling turf. The turf was transported across the lake from Clonava Bog in small flat-bottomed rowboats called "cots". Once the turf was unloaded at Derravaragh at the mouth of the River Gaine it was carted along the old bog road.

In a submission to the Devon Commission in 1844 Sir Percy Nugent stated that in order to facilitate people cutting the turf he constructed a road and canal for which tolls were payable.

In 1936 a new road was proposed from Multyfarnham to Clonava to facilitate the turf cutters. By 1940 the road had been constructed to the River Inny on each side but there was a delay in the completion of the new bridge.

Coolnagun Bog

Located on the edge of Lough Derravaragh development work commenced there in 1947 the year after Bórd na Mona was set up by an Act of the Oireachtas. Preliminary drainage of the bog was completed in 1952 There is over 2,000 acres of bog in production and over 40,000 tons of turf are produced annually.