Longford to feature on TV show
The legacy of Longford and Roscommon’s peat industry will feature in the latest episode of Building Ireland, airing on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Tuesday, August 11.
The story of Ireland’s peat industry and its impact on communities across the Midlands such as Lanesboro, will feature in the next episode of RTÉ One’s Building Ireland.
Episode four, which will have a strong focus on Longford and Roscommon, will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Tuesday, August 11.
The episode will explore the history of peat-fired electricity generation at the former Lough Ree Power Station in Lanesboro, examining the engineering and innovation behind one of Ireland’s major industrial developments.
Engineer Tim Joyce will investigate how Irish engineers overcame the challenges of generating electricity from peat, while former ESB workers share memories of the teamwork and determination involved in powering a rapidly modernising Ireland.
The programme will also look at how the peat industry shaped life beyond the power station, including the development of housing schemes in Lanesboro and Cloontuskert, which were created as workers moved from across Ireland in search of employment.
Architect Orla Murphy explores the legacy of these communities, designed by architect Frank Gibney, while geographer Susan Hegarty examines the future of Ireland’s boglands following the end of industrial peat extraction.
The episode will also feature the restoration of former Bord na Móna landscapes through rewetting and biodiversity projects, alongside their potential use for renewable energy.
From engineering achievements to changing landscapes, the programme explores how the boglands that once powered Ireland are being transformed for a new era.