THE MOVING BOG IN IRELAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3126, 10 April 1883, Page 2

THE MOVING BOG IN IRELAND.

A correspondent of the “ Dublin Daily Express ” gives the following account of a physical phenomenon, at Castlerea, County Roscommon. He says:—Having heard many reports about this moving bog, I resolved to visit the scene of devastation. Never have I witnessed as strange a phenomenon. About midway between Castlerea and Bellinagare, a distance of six miles, there is a gently sloping vale, abounding in rich meadow and pasture lands. The road at the point is somewhat higher than the adjacent fields. Along this valley the bog has forced its way. On reaching the road it was held in check for a considerable time, but eventually it burst across, and rushed with amazing rapidity, covering in its course upwards of 120 acres of fine pasture lands. One farmhouse stands quite surrounded with the mud, the occupants having to flee for their lives, leaving'behind a cart, on which they were busily, heaping some of their furniture. All communication between Castlerea and Bellinagare is cutoff,huge masses of bog, coated with heather remaining on the road for dearly a quarter of a mile, fully 10ft deep. Being anxious to view, the ’ source from which it issued, I started up the 'field towards the bog. I found it commenced about half a mile from the road, having formed a large subsidence of amazing extent, from which a stream of mud was still ■irresistibly forcing its way. It has now forced its way into the river Suck which flows through, this town; and immense quantities are passing towards Ballinasloe. Some care and supervision will be required at the various bridges along the Suck, to prevent their being filled up. Bain still continues to fall very heavily, and more serious results are apprehended. > -•