John ‘Davey’ Nolan (b. 1926)

In 1938 The Turf Development Board began work at Lyrecrompane and in 1946 local man John ‘Davey’ Nolan began his working life there. He was initially employed as a labourer at Carrigcannon and shortly afterwards he was promoted to driver at Lyrecrompane. During this recording Davey walked through afforested land which was the location in the earlier days of Lyrecrompane Bog and he describes the area which encompassed the highest blanket bog which was owned by Bord na Móna. He also provides details of the local placenames and their meanings. He recalls that during his time with the Bord the workforce comprised of a couple of hundred men and included some Travellers at various times. ‘Davey’ Nolan spent 37 years driving the locos up and down the bogland and he remembers clearly the management and staff with whom he worked over those years.