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Jack Bell O'Sullivan's Blacksmith Forge -- This
is an original forge that was relocated, stone by stone,
from Brosna, a small village in North Kerry. Visitors
may see the blacksmith working the forge, with is massive
bellows and samples of the types of iron and metal works
produced in a building such as this.
The Turf Cutters House -- This was the home of
Jeremiah Mulvihill, the founder of the village. This is
one of the original cottages on this site. This two-room
cottage has been lovingly restored and offers visitors
a look into Jeremiah's life in what was considered the
wilds of Kerry in his time. Step through the door and
step into the past. There are many points of interest,
including --
Scraw ceiling - from the Irish scraith: highly
prized insulation made from the top layer of growth
from the turf bog;
Flagstone floors - obtain from a local quarry, an
expensive alternative to hard-packed soil:
Tradition home items - dresser, open hearth, tools
of the turf cutter's trade: pike and slean (pronounced
slawn and also shlawn):
Bed chamber - located behind the hearth, captures
radiant heat or may even have a small open fire of its
own. Just big enough for a double iron bed (made by
the local blacksmith) and a small clothes horse, and
a rocking cradle when required. The chamber would also
have included one or two cylindrical earthenware jars
that were used as hot water bottles. Instead of water,
these jars would have been filled with sand then heated
before the hearth to warm. Once warmed, they would keep
the bed cozy through the night. Also, a look under the
bed would reveal the Po, also known as the chamber pot.
This saved one from having to brave the elements on
a cold, wintery night!
Denny Riordan's Labourer's Cottage -- This is
an excellent example of the traditional single room cottage.
Most of the poorest Irish across Ireland would have lived
in a cottage similar to this one. The single room would
have doubled as living area and sleeping area. Beds were
often disguised or concealed in what was called a settle
bench. This was a high backed bench was saw against the
wall beside the fire and looked like a chest, but in fact
unfolded to reveal a rolled up straw mattress and blankets.
This was probably the original hide-a-bed and used mainly
for children. A small iron bed may also stand on the far
end of the room. Quite often, large families would have
been raised in such cramped conditions.
Denny's Hen House -- Self-explanatory. This small
building would be where the chickens lived. They're let
out to roam free during the day but would be put in at
night to protect them, and any eggs laid, protected. Quite
often, eggs would be laid wherever they were and would
be gathered over the course of the day.
Phil McGillicuddy's Stable Dwelling -- This type
of dwelling is quite unique and more often than not, found
in colder parts of Ireland. These cottages could be one
or two room dwellings; the main room split into two sections:
the home end and the briar end. The cottage would also
have two entrances. Entering into the home end, the door
will open directly onto flagstones. The back door would
open onto cobbles, which would include a channel running
along the flagstones and allow animal urine to flow under
the back door and out of the cottage. A distinctive feature
in this type of cottage, if the floors and doors weren't
obvious enough, are the narrow ventilation windows on
the gable end of the briar.
The Dairy House -- Also, self-explanatory. This
is the building where butter was made, buttermilk was
collected for baking, and cream separated from milk. When
structures such as this were working full time, it was
common to catch the scent of cream and butter in the air
around the building.
Paddy Brown's Thatcher's Cottage -- This dwelling
is located at the back of the village, but very easy to
spot by the unique thatch roof. This is another excellent
example of how versatile these structures were. While
this is a one room cottage, the use of a loft on one end
enables several beds to be fitted into a small space.
Beside the cottage is a lean-to where the thatcher would
store his dried reeds.
The Old Farmhouse -- This is the original farmhouse
in the village. The site chosen for this village was on
an old farm. The farmhouse was the main house for the
farm owner and his family. Any hired help would have lived
in the labourer's cottage, as above. This building has
been under restoration for some time, as the same level
of love and care are going into as with the rest of the
cottages on this site.
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A visit to the Kerry Bog Village wouldn't be complete
unless you see the ponies and watch some traditional turf
cutting.
Rare Kerry Bog Ponies -- These ponies were thought
to be extinct, but in 1994, a handful were found living
wild in the region. They were adopted by the current owner
of the village, who has a long history in the horse world,
and set about a strict breeding program to save the breed.
This pony is most similar to the Sheltand Pony in size
at only about 10-11 hands tall. The profile has a distinctive
curve, something like an Arabian, with colors ranging
from chestnut to grey to bay. These are sturdy and powerful
little ponies whose job it was to pull turf carts across
uneven bog.
In 1994, the stallion Flash Fox was tested for genetic
markers through Weatherby's Ireland. He was satisfactorily
blood typed as being a survivor of this rare breed.
Turf Cutting -- Behind the village, visitors can
witness turf cutting in the traditional manner. Using
a slean, as above, long rectangles of earth are removed
from the ground and laid on hay to start the drying process.
Over the course of a season, the turf cutter would regularly
rotate the sods so that they would dry evenly. To complete
the drying process, the sods are stacked in neat piles
called reeks, each reek size equal to what could comfortably
fit into the cart. Timing a visit just right and you just
might see the ponies at work, doing what they were bred
to do.
The Red Fox Inn Bar and Restaurant -- Located
outside the village. This is a traditional pub with walls
lined with pictures of horses and local history.
The Craft Shop -- This shop offers traditional
souvenirs and public facilities.
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Easy access around village, cottages and pub