深夜亚洲福利久久

Irish researchers bring peatlands to the pub

21 Aug 2025

• A new beer mat series created by researchers at UCC and UCD brings Ireland鈥檚 peatland archaeology and biodiversity into pubs across the country.
• The campaign aims to highlight Ireland鈥檚 rich peatland heritage, including archaeological finds like the Brockagh axe and Ralaghan figurine, and alien-like plants including the sundew and sphagnum moss.
• Researchers aim to spark conversations about the archaeological and cultural heritage value of Ireland鈥檚 bogs in parallel with natural environmental values.

A team of Irish researchers is taking an innovative approach to public engagement by bringing the story of Ireland鈥檚 rich peatland heritage into an unexpected but familiar setting: the pub.

As part of a new public outreach campaign, a series of beer mats featuring bold artwork and bite-sized facts about Ireland鈥檚 unique peatland heritage will appear in pubs, bringing research on peatland heritage and biodiversity into everyday conversations.

Led by researchers at 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork (UCC) and 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Dublin (UCD), the project brings 鈥減eatland heritage to the people鈥�, highlighting rare wildlife, ancient artefacts including the Brockagh Bronze Age axe and Ralaghan figurine, and little-known ecological gems like the sundew and Cladonia lichen.

The series offers a glimpse into the unique biodiversity and cultural history preserved in Ireland鈥檚 bogs. Each mat includes a QR code that links to more detailed stories, images, and insights into Ireland鈥檚 peatlands.

The initiative is part of a collaboration between the Irish Peatland Archaeology Across Time (IPeAAT) project at UCC, UCD Earth Institute and Peatland Finance Ireland, which aims to conserve and promote the rich archaeological and environmental history preserved within Ireland's peatlands.

Ireland鈥檚 bogs are unique landscapes that play a vital role in supporting biodiversity, sustaining economies, and preserving both natural and cultural heritage. Peatlands cover over 20% of Ireland鈥檚 land area, and around one-fifth of these are now under State or private protection, safeguarding their ecological and cultural value for future generations.

Dr Benjamin Gearey, Lecturer in Environmental Archaeology at UCC and Principal Investigator of IPeAAT, said: 鈥淭his is about sparking curiosity and conversation. Peatlands have protected some of Ireland鈥檚 most remarkable archaeological finds for thousands of years. Ironically, we鈥檝e only discovered many of them because of peat extraction, a process that also risks destroying the very heritage it reveals.

鈥淏y bringing archaeology and biodiversity into the pub, we鈥檙e aiming to start new conversations about the value of our landscapes and heritage. We hope the project encourages people to see these ancient landscapes differently, not just as remote or forgotten bogs, but as living landscapes鈥攔ich in history, biodiversity, and cultural value鈥攖hat deserve attention and protection.鈥�

Dr Shane McGuinness, a Climate Fellow at , said: 鈥淧eatlands have, in the recent past, been regarded as wastelands requiring drainage, clearance or digging for fuel. But in our distant past, they were areas filled with mythology, wonder and inherent cultural and spiritual value. Now, peatlands are increasingly valued for climate, biodiversity and water provision. Along with these values should come the inherent cultural and spiritual heritage鈥攐ur own deep time.鈥�

The beer mats are set to roll out with a pilot launch in Dublin and Cork.

IPeAAT researchers are collaborating with the Lemanaghan Bog Group, the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland and Deep Time Agency on a event on 23 August during National Heritage Week. The event invites reflection on the changing identity of the bog, from its industrial peat extraction past to its possible future as the site of a large-scale wind farm, and the potential impacts such changes could have on the archaeological and cultural heritage of the area.