Around 50 people have cut turf on a raised bog designated for EU protection near Woodford in Co Galway.
Dermot Moran of the Barroughter & Clonmoylan Bog Action Group said that they began cutting turf at 10am this morning.
Mr Moylan said they had no interference from either the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) or gardaí.
Mr Moran said enough turf has been cut to supply three or four families. A mechanical digger and hopper machine are being used for the work.
Turf cutters were involved in a stand-off with gardaí at the bog in June, when machinery was seized and attempts were made to remove it from the bog.
A spokesperson for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said that NPWS personnel and the Dept will continue to work closely with gardaí to investigate suspected illegal turf cutting on protected bogs.
