The Parklands has a number of sites of historical interest.

Findings at Lough Boora Mesolithic Site have shown that this part of Ireland was settled by man long before originally thought to be the case.

The country's long association with peat production can be traced back to Turraun, where an enterprising Kieran Farrelly created a prosperous business ins the 1800's.

An area opposite Cloghan Wetlands known as "Weaver Street" was home to the local weaving industry during the 1800s. While nearby workers on Drinagh bog have often discovered "bog butter" - butter that had been buried in the bog.

Lough Boora Mesolithic Site

Lough Boora Mesolithic site was discovered in 1977 when what was first thought to be a stone track way was brought to the attention of the National Museum. This was investigated and found to be the storm shoreline of a post-glacial lake, a remnant of an era when the Shannon and its lakes - Lough Ree and Lough Derg covered much more of the Midlands than today.

Further investigation of the shoreline revealed the charcoal remains of ancient campfires. Associated with these were approximately 1,500 artefacts, many of them carefully worked black stone tools made of chert - a stone like flint, found locally in glacial deposits. The campfire sites, dated to between 6800 and 6500 BC, were the temporary campsites of hunters during the Mesolithic age (Middle Stone Age).

The site itself is not the most spectacular archaeological feature as nothing remains of these encampments. However, it is one of the most important archaeological finds in Ireland. Prior to its discovery it was thought that the first human settlements were near to the coast and that the midlands remained uncolonised. The discovery of the Lough Boora Mesolithic site has proven this to be inaccurate and pused the accepted date for the colonisation of the midlands back by over 3,000 years!

The site, part of which is now a National Heritage Area, is situated at the end of a 1.75 km walk, which is being developed as a sculpture trail. Beginning at the edge of Boora Lake and continuing through coniferous, oak and birch woodland, the walk ends at the storm shoreline in a remote open area. A stone plaque marks the location of the settlement.

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Turraun

Turraun has a long history of commercial peat development, which pre-dates Bord na Móna by centuries. First developed by a man called Kieran Farrelly in the 1800s, moss peat was stripped from the surface of the bog and dried for use as horse bedding by the British Army during the Crimean War. By the turn of the century this was a very prosperous business, however, in 1903 a flood destroyed the factory and Kieran was forced to emigrate to America.

The area was then purchased by Sir John Purser Griffith - who drained it further and built a peat-operated power station. Its power was used to drive a Wielandt excavator, which produced sod turf that was transported along the Grand Canal and sold in Dublin. In later years Bord na Móna was to use this station as a model for its electricity stations.

When in 1936 the area was sold to the Turf Development Board it was developed further, so that by the outbreak of WW II Turraun was a major supplier of sod peat to Dublin. Also during this era, peat was used to produce carbon from which gas was extracted and used as a substitute for petrol. The remains of this carbon factory can still be seen close to the northern car park.

In 1946 Bord na Móna took over from the Turf Development Board and Turraun’s production system was changed from sod peat to milled peat used to supply Ferbane Power Station. This process continued until Turraun reached the end of its commercial life and became part of the Lough Boora Parklands.

Turraun was also the source of the 19th century "Gallen Brick". A distinctive yellow brick, it was moulded from blue clay found in the area and fired using dried turf as a kiln. These were transported to Dublin and used to build many of the houses along the North Circular Road.

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Cloghan and Drinagh Wetlands

The Cloghan and Drinagh wetlands, located approximately 2 km from Cloghan village have a wealth of history which pre-dates the emergence of the peat industry.

Weaver Street

Weaver Street lies opposite the Cloghan wetlands and, as its name suggests, was home to the local weaving industry during the 1800s. The flax used was grown locally and linen hand towels and waking cloths were some of the many products produced - many of which have survived in the homes of local families.

Weaver Street was once a popular spot for "cross-road dances" and is favourably referred to in the old song "The Cloghan Fields so Green"

Drinagh Wetland

On several occasions, Bord na Mona men working in what was once Drinagh bog came across "bog butter" - butter that had been buried in the bog. In pre-Christian times this practice was linked to a magic ritual, however, the butter found in Drinagh dates to the 17th or 18th century. During this era burying butter in the bog became popular again and although we are uncertain why, it is thought that it was done to preserve it in times when salt was in short supply. Certainly the butter found in Drinagh bog contained no salt.

When buried, the butter’s consistency changes - bog butter tends to resemble lard. In past generations, when found, it was used and sold as axle-grease for carts.

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