Peatlands: New documentary to explore the secret life of bogs

Cormac Ó hÁdhmaill said making the series was "an eye-opener"

Climate change, folklore and Ireland's natural history - there's more to peatlands than meets the eye.

And while holding an important place in Irish culture, these natural landscapes could also be crucial to our future.

That's according to Cormac Ó hÁdhmaill, presenter of a new BBC Northern Ireland documentary on the secret life of bogs.

In his new Irish language series, Rúin na bPortach (Secrets Of The Peat), Ó hÁdhmaill visits bogs across the island of Ireland and throughout the world, exploring their role in the global ecosystem and how they have shaped Irish culture and identity.

Carbon sinks

One of the major benefits of bog lands, as the documentary explores, is that they can act as "carbon sinks" - sites that trap carbon out of the atmosphere and prevent it contributing to climate change.

However, damaged bogs, as 86% of them are in Northern Ireland, release their stored carbon, further contributing to climate change.

There are currently several projects across Northern Ireland to "restore" bogs, allowing them to once again act as a sponge for carbon in the atmosphere.

However, Ó hÁdhmaill told BBC News NI that these efforts are "not the scale that will be needed".

He said that bogs also slow the flow of water and that "the government is starting to realise" you can tackle the issue of flooding via peatlands.

"It's kind of a double whammy: preserve your bogs for the benefit of the climate, preserve your bogs also to alleviate the flooding in the future."

The series sees Ó hÁdhmaill travel to bogs across the world, including in Finland and Canada

Ó hÁdhmaill said that the programme doesn't just look at the issue of climate change, "although that is probably the most important".

"We looked at the mythology of bogs; we looked at the traditions associated with bogs; we looked at what we can learn from bogs as a storage of scientific facts and cultural artefacts from the past.

"It was an eye-opener, to be honest. We've neglected bogs for so long; bogs were something to be exploited; bogs were basically seen as sources of fuel."

The series includes a trip to the National Museum of Ireland for a conversation about the human remains found in bogs in Ireland, and what they can tell us about "a time before our history books began".

It also examines the folklore and mythology surrounding bogs in Ireland.

Peatlands were long thought to be home to fairies and various superstitions developed regarding these landscapes.

"Some of our traditions have lists of prayers that you can arm yourself with against the dangers of the bog," said Ó hÁdhmaill

"They were difficult places, they were dangerous and places to be respected," he added.

And it's a respect that he is hoping we can all regain.

The first of three episodes of Rúin na bPortach will be available at 22:00 on Sunday 21 January on BBC Two Northern Ireland, and BBC iPlayer. An English language version will be broadcast on BBC Northern Ireland later this year.