Laois village to unveil new bog oak sculpture

A Laois village is set to unveil a new bog oak sculpture as part of this year's Heritage Week events. 

Local artist Peter Dooley has designed a sculpture for the community garden in Camross which will celebrate the area's connection with the oak tree. In ancient times the area was covered in oak woodlands and the village of Camross actually means “Crooked Wood” as Gaeilge.

Research in 1932 by Helen Roe, the first Laois County Librarian, speaks to the enduring association of trees to the Camross area in its evocative place names, Field of the Wood, Rough Oak Wood and Oakwood of the Freeman, to list a few.
Little now remains of these ancient oak woodlands with many felled to fuel local iron foundries (17th &18th Century) and provide timber for shipbuilding for the British Navy. Bog oak has been harvested from our local bogs, proof the primeval oak forests once stood in our locality.

"Peter has created a sculpture for our community garden using bog oak that has been saved from a local bog. The Sculpture will be a focal point in the garden, creating an opportunity to explore an aspect of our heritage that has been forgotten. Reminding people of the ancient woodlands that were once in our locality and linking it to present times where we must protect our native Irish trees, our biodiversity, while also mitigating climate change," explained the organisers. 

"Camross Tidy Towns group now adds another dimension to our quest to venerate the oak tree- to help preserve our heritage, honour our past, while looking forward."

READ NEXT: Hollywood director in Laois to make film at iconic castle ruins

This project was funded by a Heritage Through Art grant 2025 from Laois County Council.

The unveiling of the sculpture will take place on August 22 from 7.30pm to 8pm in  Camross Community Park.

Meet in the car park behind the Poets Cottage and walk to the Community Garden located at the back of the Community Park. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.

Last summer the celebrations to mark the official opening of the new community garden in Camross took place.