Pictured are the newly elected members of Sheelin Turf Cutting Contractors Association with guest speaker Luke Ming Flanagan at a public meeting to discuss Government plans to ban turf cutting in certain areas. Back from left; Brian McGahern Committee, Eoghan Reynolds Committee, Joe Briody Committe

Sheelin turfcutters gear up to take battle to Europe

The turf wars are igniting again and turfcutters both locally and nationally are determined to keep the home fires burning with turf from their local bogs. Hundreds of people including turf cutters and bog owners from all over the Lough Sheelin catchment area and neighbouring County Westmeath, flocked to Crover house last Wednesday night to hear Deputy Luke Ming Flanagan throw a few sods of light on the challenges ahead. See this week's Celt for more...