James Martin (b. 1915)

Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick is the birthplace of Jimmy Martin, who at 22 years of age, graduated as a mechanical engineer from University College Dublin. He began work with the Turf Development Board in 1946. He has in his possession some early drawings, illustrations and photographs of the machinery to be used in the production of milled peat in the midland bogs, and he recalls his determination to have peat briquettes produced from these bogs. With the assistance of his daughter Mary, he discusses his tenure as assistant manager at Lullymore, the Nissen huts, the migrants, the mechanisation of the work on the bogs, and the purchase of 500 Massey Ferguson tractors in the early days.