Boora Bog facts for kids
Boora Bog is a special place in County Offaly, Ireland. Its Irish name is Portach na Buaraí.
It used to be a peat bog, where people dug up peat for fuel. This happened mostly between the 1950s and 1970s. Now, this land is being changed. It's used for farming and for fun activities like eco-tourism.
There was once a lake called Lough Boora. It was drained, but not for peat. This area is now a nature reserve, looked after by the Irish Wildlife Trust. You can also find two lakes here for fishing.
Discovering Ancient Boora Bog
In 1977, an amazing discovery was made at Lough Boora. Archaeologists found a very old site. It was a temporary camp from the Mesolithic era, also known as the Middle Stone Age.
No buildings were found, but many tools were there. These included stone axe heads, arrow heads, and blades. They were found around old fire pits. Scientists used a method called Radiocarbon dating to find out how old these items were. They are about 8,000 to 8,800 years old!
Sculptures in the Parklands
Boora Bog is home to a unique outdoor art gallery. It's called Sculpture in the Parklands. This park covers a huge area, about 50 acres (200,000 square meters).
The first artworks were created in 2002. Seven artists from Ireland and other countries worked there for three weeks. They made eight large sculptures. These artworks blend in with the natural landscape and the history of the bog. You can visit this special park all year round.
Amazing Wildlife at Boora
Boora Bog is a very important place for wildlife. It's the main home in Ireland for the grey partridge. A special project has helped these birds. Their numbers have grown from just 22 to over 900!
Many other birds live or visit here. You might see a hen harrier, a common buzzard, or even a cuckoo. Other birds include the merlin, green sandpiper, and ruff. More than 130 types of birds have been seen here.
Boora Bog is also home to many mammals. You can find deer and a group of wild goats. Badgers, hares, and bats also live in this amazing natural area.
