Portlaoise meeting called on vision for Laois bog

Laois people are being invited to give their views and get involved in a campaign that aims to realise a big Laois bog on Portlaoise's outskirts as an environmental amenity that could boost tourism.

Cúl na Móna is the collective name given to boglands situated just south-west of Portlaoise that were used by Bord na Móna for peat production. When the State-owned company pulled out of peat harvesting and production, a community group was formed to plot out a new eco future for the landscape to the south of Portlaoise as a public amenity.

The group now is appealing for more local involvement and opinions to help realise the potential of the land. They say a recreational walkway could be built. They have outlined the potential in a note issued to community groups around Laois via Laois PPN.

"There may be immense potential for ecotourism, which would greatly benefit our local environment, economy and society. The community group would look to engage in the former bogs' development process, championing its sustainable development," says the group.

The April meeting is being held to let the public know what has been done to date and to get more people to join them.

"All most welcome. We'd love to see as many people as possible," say organisers.

The Cúl na Móna Bog meeting takes place on Wednesday, April 26 at 7pm in the Parish Centre, Stradbally Road, Portlaosie, R32 FH67.

Bord na Móna agreed in 2024 to leave their old train tracks in situ, which once carried the milled peat back to their processing in Togher. The Portlaoise Bogs Group welcomed the decision at the time because of the potential to make the bogs accessible to the public.

A proposal is also on the table to use the old railway line linking all bogs via a greenway - which if developed would be the first in Laois.

Funding of €50,000 was has been awarded to Laois County Council in 2024 and 2025 to advance the early planning stages of a greenway from Abbeyleix to Portlaoise. 

It is not clear if the funding was spent in 2024. Part of this greenway would traverse the bogs. The money was awarded under the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) National Roads and Greenways Allocations for 2024.

Portlaoise-based Laois Fine Gael TD Willie Aird said in 2024 that the Greenway could be called the O'Moore Way. As a councillor, he promised to advance the project if elected to the Dáil.

Bord na Móna has other plans for part of the bogs. They plan to build a large anaerobic digester to generate renewable gas and fertiliser, on a 42 acres site at Cúl na Móna cutaway bog near Junction 18 off the M7 motorway in Portlaoise. 

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