Bog-Bursts in Ireland

County Derry or Londonderry

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A.D. 1824, December 22.-Bog of Ballywindelland, Colerlaine.
A portion of this bog containing 80 or 100 acres gave way and passed into an adjoining valley: it gradually advanced on the firm land, during theday, at the rate of 2 feet per minute.

A.D. 1895, August 9.-Bog near Dungiven, Co. Derry
The site was in the townland of Briskey, at the east slope of Benbradagh; an extensive mountain bog 10 to 30 feet in depth, sloping at a gradient of about 1 in 12. Where the burst occurred a small stream runs underground for about a quarter mile, the ground above it being firm, so that cattle grazed on it.
On the evening of August 9th there, was a thunderstorm, but not accompanied by any excessive rainfall. The weather during the summer had been normal. In the night, probably, before midnight, between 2 and 3 acres of bog gave way. For some 40 yards length at its lower end, the bog burst out entirely. Over the rest a tapering area 300 feet wide by 600 long, the ground subsided about 10 feet, leaving great blocks of the solid crust, broken up in a fantastic way. A very considerable flood of water and peat poured down the stream, which eventually joins the River Roe. No damage was done, as the gradients are steep, and the land not under cultivation, but a cottage situated beside the stream 1 mile below the scene of the outburst narrowly escaped being washed away. A deposit of peat was left on the banks of the stream for a considerable distance. There is evidence of several similar slides having taken place in the district..

Ref: Information supplied by Mr. H.C. Moore, C.E., Dungiven (1897 - to Dr. Praeger)

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