UCD researcher brings peatland to pubs with beers mats celebrating Ireland’s bogs
19 December 2025
Dr Shane McGuinness, Assistant Professor in Sustainability and UCD Climate Fellow, launching the beer mats at Dublin's Cobblestone pub Credit: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
The story of Ireland’s peatlands are being told through a new series of illustrated beer mats celebrating the biodiversity and history preserved by Irish’s bogs.
Developed by researchers at University College Dublin and University College Cork, in collaboration with artist Eleanor Brayden, the beer mats feature bold artwork and bite-sized facts about Ireland’s unique peatland heritage.
Issued as part of a new public outreach campaign, the project aims to spark conversation and curiosity, and will appear in pubs this festive season, namely the Cobblestone, O’Neills (Pearse Street), Anseo and John Fallon’s (The Capstan Bar) in Dublin, and The Fountain, Intermission, Rising Sons Brewery and Sin É in Cork.
The beer mats feature detailed artwork and facts about the biodiversity and cultural history of Ireland's bogs
Ancient artefacts such as the Brockagh Bronze Age axe and the Ralaghan figurine sit alongside ecological treasures including the carnivorous sundew plant and Devil’s Matchstick lichen.
Each mat also includes a QR code linking to further stories, images and research insights on Ireland’s peatlands.
The project is supported by the UCD Earth Institute and forms part of a wider collaboration with the IPeAAT project at UCC and Peatland Finance Ireland.
Dr Shane McGuinness, Climate Fellow at the UCD Earth Institute, said peatlands are increasingly recognised not only for their climate and biodiversity value but also for their deep cultural and spiritual significance.
Dr Benjamin Gearey, Principal Investigator of IPeAAT, artist Eleanor Brayden, and Dr McGuinness Credit: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
“While peatlands have been seen as wastelands or a source of fuel in the past, they’re becoming increasingly valued for climate action, biodiversity and water,” he said.
"We’re delighted to be bringing this message to an unconventional venue – giving the public a snapshot of the wealth and wonder of Ireland’s peatlands during the festive season.”
“By bringing archaeology and biodiversity into the pub, we’re hoping the project encourages people to see these ancient landscapes differently, not just as remote or forgotten bogs, but as living landscapes rich in history, biodiversity, and cultural value,” added said Dr Benjamin Gearey, Principal Investigator of IPeAAT.
Ireland’s bogs are unique landscapes that play a vital role in supporting biodiversity, sustaining economies, and preserving both natural and cultural heritage.
Peatlands cover over 20% of Ireland’s land area, and around one-fifth of these are now under State or private protection, safeguarding their ecological and cultural value for future generations.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
