Taken from: Bord na Móna Recruitment Leaflets

Bord na Móna
TURF HARVESTING SCHEME

LEND A HAND TO SAVE
THE NATON’S FUEL!
AND ENJOY
AN OPEN AIR HOLIDAY
GOOD FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION
GOOD COMPANY at
TURF HARVESTING IN IRELAND
AND BE PAID FOR IT!

This Scheme is open to Irishmen and their friends from any part of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, Student Associations Youth Organisations and Individuals or Groups of Friends

Free Travel from any part of Ireland to Hostels.
HEALTHY WORK
GOOD WAGES
RECREATION
Conditions and Application Form below.

Conditions

Wages as paid to the ordinary worker will apply to those over 18 years of age. These are:-Time rate of 1/8 per hour for a 48 hour week. Nearly all operations, particularly harvesting operations, are, however, carried out on piece work. The Piece Rate is designed to enable an average worker to earn at least 25 % more than Time Rate, i.e. 2/1 PER HOUR

The age limit for boys is 16 years and the Time Rate for boys 16-18 years of age is 1/2 per hour.

The Piece Rates apply irrespective of age.

A Wet Time rate of 10 1/2d. per hour will be paid for time lost due to bad weather, provided you are available for work.

Full Board, consisting of three good meals daily and comfortable accommodation (Spring beds, bed linen, etc.) will be supplied at 20/-WEEKLY

A Canteen Credit system up to 20/- can be availed of if desired.

Wages are paid a week in arrears, first payment being at the end of the second week of your employment.

If necessary, arrangements can be made to pay wages in bulk to the nominated authority of any group.

A minimum working period of two weeks must be guaranteed by each harvester or group of harvesters.

While it may be necessary to house Harvesters in specially allocated billets in existing Hostels, generally accommodation will be in tent encampments reserved for Harvesters, adjacent to Hostels.
In the case of units, such as Boy Scouts, who may desire to set up their own encampments, suitable sites will be allocated.

How to Apply

The Harvesting Period will be for the months of June, July and August. The enclosed Application Form should be fully completed and forwarded to: BORD NA MONA, 26, Lower Hatch Street, DUBLIN. to arrive at least two weeks before the date you wish to go to a Hostel. A stamped addressed envelope must accompany each application.

Every effort will be made to send applicants to selected Hostels, but we cannot guarantee that such selections will be available and alternative Hostels should be written in the appropriate section. Within one week of receipt of applications travel vouchers will issue to those accepted.
All working periods will begin on Fridays and end on Thursdays. Harvesters should, therefore, arrive early on Thursdays and leave on Friday forenoons. You will not be allowed to remain on at the Hostel for a day or so.

Special arrangements will be made to allow groups, who have set up their own encampments, time to “break camp”

Hostel Works-Location No. Of Volunteers Required

Clonsast, near Portarlington, Co. Leix. (50 miles from Dublin)	100 for each 2-week period
Glashabaun near Edenderry, Co. Offaly (65 miles from Dublin)	50 for each 2-week period
Littleton, near Thurles, Co. Tipperary. (100 miles from Dublin)	150 for each 2-week period
Mountdillon, nr. Lanesboro, Co. Longford. (80 miles from Dublin)	50 for each 2-week period
Timahoe Sth., nr. Allenwood, Co. Kildare (35 miles from Dublin)	100 for each 2-week period
Timahoe Nth., near Enfield, Co. Meath 35 miles from Dublin)	50 for each 2-week period
Ballydermott, nr. Rathangan, Co. Kildare (45 miles from Dublin)	100 for each 2-week period

General
The work to be carried out under the Scheme consists mainly of footing turf, feeding sod collectors, assisting at loading and unloading wagons.
Volunteers are advised to take the following articles with them:­

• Old clothes for work.
• A stout pair of boots or shoes.
• A rain coat and hat.
• A change of clothing in case you get wet.
• Towels and Soap.
• Sandwich Tin.
• Billy-Can for making tea on the Bog.
• Milk Bottle.
• Gloves.
• Money.

Don’t forget to bring your Ration Book with all the appropriate coupons intact.

Special arrangements will be made for the issue of Emergency Cards to non-residents in Ireland.

Don’t forget to bring your National Health and Unemployment Insurance Cards.

Individual volunteers will have no responsibility for the running of the Hostels or Encampments.

Groups or Units will be expected to organise any special form of Recreation they may desire.

Hostel Supervisors will, of course, give every assistance.

Adequate delph and cutlery will be supplied at each Hostel.

No responsibility will be accepted for the loss of any property volunteers bring to the Hostels.
Issued by Bord na Mona, 1/5/’51.

LEINSTER LEADER, LTD., NAAS

Bord na Móna
HOSTEL TURF VOLUNTEER SCHEME

APPLICATION FORM

I, ……………………………………………………………. (Block Letters)

of……………………………………………………………..
Wish to apply for work as a Volunteer worker at:
Clonsast, Co. Leix-near Portarlington.
or Glashabaun, Co. Offaly-near Edenderry.
or Mountdillon, Co. Longford-near Lanesboro’.
or Littleton, Co. Tipperary-near Thurles.
or Timahoe Sth., Co. Kildare-near .Allenwood.
or Timahoe Nth., Co. Meath-near Enfield.
or Ballydermott. Co. Kildare-near Rathangan.
(Mark in order of choice) for the period:

……………………………to……………………………, 1951
(Note: Minimum period must be two weeks commencing and concluding on Fridays)

Or if not available :
from ……………………………..to……………………………

from ……………………………. to……………………………

Nationality…………………………………

Age…………………………………………
I enclosed a stamped addressed envelope.

If a, member of a special Group or Unit state:
Title of Unit. ………………………….. Leader …………………… or Group Headquarters Address…………………………………………………
Please state Bus and/or Rail route from nearest home Station in Ireland to Hostel selected.