"Who's going to save the turf?" Minister shares turf tale at Longford event

Minister Kevin Boxer Moran was speaking at the ICMA event in the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre in Keenagh

Published 2nd Apr 2026, 16:34 BST Minister Kevin Boxer Moran at the Corlea Trackway Centre Minister Kevin Boxer Moran was speaking at the ICMA event in the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre in Keenagh Sign up to our Longford Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Longford Live within your account.

During his speech at the ICMA event in the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre last week, Minister Kevin Boxer Moran entertained the delegates with his trademark humour. One anecdote that caught everyone's interest however was how his path in life was swayed by the simple question of “who’s going to save the turf ?”

He recalled, “My nickname is ‘Boxer’ but this guy from back home used to always call me ‘Sham boxer.’ He said to me one day, “Sham boxer, will you come to Australia with me?”

I said, “Jesus I don’t know about that, they mightn’t be too happy about that when I get home!”

Read: From turf fires to iPads as Longford's Lenamore national school celebrates fifty years

My grandmother and grandfather reared me so when I went home this particular evening, I sat in the chair and said, “I’m thinking about going to Australia.”

First thing my grandmother said to me, “what about the bog? Who’s going to save the turf ?”

Low and behold I didn’t go to Australia but this guy did. I actually didn’t eve know he had gone to Australia until just over a week ago, I was in Sydney and walking in the St Patrick’s Day parade when next thing I hear someone calling, “Sham boxer! Sham boxer!”

Read: Longford Gardaí respond to assault of Dealz staff member

I looked across and there he was! The two of us cried and we put our arms around one another.

He said to me, “You, ya big eejit, you went for the bog, and I went for the money!”

“It goes to show you though,” he continued, “Irish people have always had that connection with the bog.”

Read: Ministerial visit shines spotlight on innovation of Longford timber firm

Related topics: Longford Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre Longford County Council Sign up to our Longford Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Longford Live within your account.