Ireland has a particularly strong traditional link with donkeys. From the start of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, donkeys played a key role in rural lives, especially in the west of the country. Jim Smyth wrote an academic review of the history of donkeys in Ireland in 2014, titled The Strange History of the Irish Donkey. He details the main roles played by donkeys in Irish life, including clearing rocky fields, moving turf from bogs, ploughing, transport of people and goods, grinding corn, and finally, for recreation and as family pets.
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