quote:Ropes were made from pieces of deal...
The Irish version of the quotation might help you:
Dhéantaí rópaí as píosaí giúise a bhí le fáil sa phortach. I ngeall ar an mianach snáithíneach sa déil, d'fhéadfaí í a oibriú agus í a chasadh go héasca de láimh leis an rópa a dhéanamh, agus anuas air seo bhí sí díonach ar uisce. as píosaí giúise = out of pieces of pine
Bog deal is the stumps and trunks of pine trees, about 4,000 years old, buried in peat bogs and exposed during the cutting of the peat.