Nature Based Activities
Botanising
Many people visit the Burren to experience first hand, some of the Burren’s extraordinary ecological wealth. The Burren is a species-rich haven with some particularly fascinating flora found in the limestone hills and meadows including a curious mixture of Arctic-Alpine and Mediterranean flowers.
Many amateur botanists come to pay homage to the curious mix of plants found in the Burren and seek out the twenty two of Ireland's twenty-seven native orchid species that are to found. The Burren offers budding artists a colourful display to inspire with an eco-system that is a joy to watch unfold. The sight of curious feral goats, red foxes and hares and even occasionally the more elusive members of the Burren's faunal community, the pine marten, attract nature lovers year after year to this natural wonderland
Birdwatching
Though not as celebrated as much as the renowned flora, there is a significant wealth and diversity of fauna to be found throughout the Burren region. From the avifaunal perspective for instance, over 100 different bird species are thought to breed in the Burren.
Among the most common species would be the skylark and stonechat, though peregrine falcons, cuckoos and grey herons also occur in relative abundance. Many winter visiting birds swell the local avifaunal populations, with the seasonally enlarged turloughs a favourite destination for many of them.
The essential guide for the Burren twitcher has to be ‘An Atlas of the Breeding Birds of the Burren and the Aran Islands’ by Liam Lysaght, published by Birdwatch Ireland . This important publication gives a detailed background to the landscape and land use history of the Burren and Aran Islands, as well as describing the main habitats present. It also gives detailed species accounts and distribution maps for all breeding birds, based on extensive fieldwork.
Art and Photography
Many visual artists have been inspired by the sweeping grey landscapes of the Burren, and by the rich flora and ancient monuments found scattered throughout. But you don't have to be an internationally renowned artist to delve into the Burren for inspiration; there is something here for everybody. Even those who enjoy just looking at art are catered for, with a number of Galleries throughout the Burren and in nearby villages and towns.
Possibly one of the most photogenic landscapes in the world, the Burren is the perfect place for all levels of photographers to develop their craft, particularly those with an interest in nature photography. Photography represents one of the best and most appropriate mediums through which this special place can be explored, allowing for an intimate perspective of this rich heritage without damaging it. This is especially the case with new developments in digital photography.
The Burren is a very generous landscape for the photographer and artist, with a massive range of material to photograph,draw and paint from sweeping landscapes to crumbling monuments, from intricate flowers to colourful butterflies. It is also a landscape that changes with the seasons, as new flowers emerge to colour the landscape and the water levels of the turloughs fluctuate in line with rainfall levels. The Burren is particularly sensitive to changing light conditions, assuming a lilac hue in summer’s evenings, in contrast to the glaringly bright noon conditions.
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A. The Farmyard Dabrian, |
Tel: 087 2789947 Fax: Email: info@thefarmyard.ie Web: http://www.thefarmyard.ie |
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Burren Outdoor Education Burren Outdoor Education Centre |
Tel: 065 7078066 Fax: 065 7078195 Email: burroec@eircom.net Web: http://www.burrenoec.com |
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The Boghill Centre The Boghill Centre |
Tel: +353(0)657074644 Fax: Email: boghill@eircom.net Web: http://www.boghill.com |
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The Burren Ecotourism Network (BEN) Burren Ecotourism Clare Co. Council Ennistymon Area Office Co. Clare |
Tel: +353 65 7072295 Fax: Email: info@burrenecotourism.com Web: http://www.burrenecotourism.com |
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