Report of Committee of Investigation on Bog-flow in Kerry. 495 
surrounding country, its edges presenting the appearance of high 
turf banks. “A farmer digging potatoes suddenly observed a 
brown mass slowly approaching. Leaving his spade in the 
ground, he went for the neighbours, and on his return the mass of 
moving bog had half covered his potato field, and completely 
hidden his corn field from sight, except a few stacks which 
remained on a knoll, an island in the midst of a scene of desola- 
tion.”’! The bog slowly flowed down the valley of the Dunmore, 
burying three farm-houses, and covering about 3800 acres of 
pasture and arable land, 6 feet deep. The peat was cut along a 
perpendicular face, 25 to 30 feet in height, which extended down 
to the underlying gravel. It was from this cutting that the 
outburst took place. The flood of peat and water moved rapidly 
at first, but afterwards slowly, and continued in movement for 
11 days. It carried away roads and bridges. The subsided 
portion of the bog extended eastwards from the face of the cutting 
for a distance of a quarter of amile; its greatest breadth measured 
also a quarter of a mile: down the middle, a valley from 20 to 
25 feet deep was formed, and about the sides the crust was torn 
asunder. ‘The numerous crevasses so formed were filled to the top 
with black peaty fluid.’ 
a.D. 1888, January 25. Bog near Castlereagh, Co. Roscommon. 
—‘ The bog was situated between the villages of Moor and Bas- 
lick; in about two hours, it moved a mile in a south-westerly 
direction towards the River Suck; after a short interval, the 
movement continued, some 4000 acres of land were covered, three 
houses had to be deserted, several roads were blocked; the 
Ballinagare-road being covered 15 feet deep. leven or twelve 
years ago the Tulla bog, situated about a quarter of a mile from. 
the scene of the present outbreak, burst and discharged itself into 
the river Suck.’ 
A.D. 1883, January 30. Bog near Newtownforbes, Co. Long- 
Jord.—‘A. bog near Newtownforbes has commenced to migrate, 
covering turf and potatoes.’”* 
! Savage, ‘‘ Picturesque Ireland,’’ pp. 234-285, illustr. (n. d.). 
2 Report to the Board of Public Works, by Mr. Forsyth, 31st October, 1873. 
3 Freeman’s Journal, January 27, 30, and 31, 1883. 
+ Tbid., January 31, 1883. 
