Bord na Móna - Source Issue 7 - (Page 23)

A group of employees from head office enjoying the annual outing. extract from Scéal na Móna – 1972 head office outing: on saturday, 17th June, two coach loads of head office staff left the fair city and headed south to view the sights at loilgheach Mor and the devesci estate, abbeyleix. at loilgheach Mor shrub nursery we were met by colm Mccoy (Manager of the project) and Mr. p. Barry (Manager, loilgheach Mor). two main groups were conducted round, followed by many bloom-plucking splinter groups. soon colm was policing his cherished plot, entreating the ladies to leave some leaves behind them and to settle for the exquisite pinks and purples of the rhododendrons. finally, the buses were reloaded and moved up the road to the foras taluntais experimental station where fionan neagh showed us around. fionan gave us a very interesting talk on growing exotic vegetables such as asparagus and sweet corn: also strawberries, blueberry, onions, celery, and bulbs, on peat soil. an foras have had some spectacular success with their experiments here. fionan neagh explained their progress in a way which all of us could easily understand and certainly impressed on us the vast potential of cutover bog. lunchtime was fast approaching so we headed for the Motel Montague for a delicious lunch and after dinner address by Mr. p.c. Mooney. p. c. gave us a brief run-down on the afternoon’s schedule, which included a visit to the de vesci estate, abbeyleix, and a scenic drive across the slieve Bloom mountains, before returning for tea at the Montague. we descended on the de vesci estate to discover that no dogs or transistors were allowed, nor was flower or plant picking permitted. one group took the path and a second tried the more exciting route through “the wilderness”. loud shrieks and splashes from the undergrowth signalled the end of Bridget and Bernard’s attempt to try boating on the lake. they refused to fall in for the official camera on Mr. sheahan’s movie camera, in spite of offers of £5 to do so. the rushes and willows were alive with strange calls of lesser and greater spotted purchasing officers and draughtsmen. paddy Mooney was heard to quip nervously “even the bearers have run away”. still we fought on towards the old oak tree, the age of which has confounded the experts but which paddy immediately put at “circa?” one thousand years old. Back across the river nore towards the house for a quick cup of something before we left. one coach left, followed soon after by the second. singing began again as we drove towards the slieve Bloom mountains. the coach climbed steadily, winding along narrow country lanes, stopping to allow cows to pass and negotiating ninety-degree bends. infoRMation if you wish to have your name listed as a past or present employee on www.heartland.ie please go the Heritage page on the Heartland website to register, or alternatively contact tony McKenna at tony.mckenna@bnm. ie or 045 439734 for a permission form. S www.bordnamona.ie Source | 23 Heritage http://www.heartland.ie http://www.bordnamona.ie

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Bord na Móna - Source Issue 7

Bord na Móna - Source Issue 7
Contents
A Round-Up of News from Around the Company
Willow Harvest for Farmers
New Approach, New Business
Strategic Growth and Development
Challege and Change
Anua Beginning
Raging Inferno
Mapping a Sustainable Future
Project Update
Heritage Corner
Nationwide

Bord na Móna - Source Issue 7