Read Burrenbeo Snapshot, our latest monthly newsletter here . If you wish to get up to date information on Burrenbeo’s news and events straight to your email, subscribe using the sign up box at the bottom of our homepage.
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Burrenbeo February 2025 Snapshot
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Since becoming a charity in 2008, Burrenbeo Trust has grown year on year, launched many local and national initiatives and solidified its role as a national leader in place-based learning and community stewardship. Capturing the impact of our work is not easy but something we strive to do each year in order to keep learning from our experience and growing. We are therefore delighted to present to you our hot-off-the-press annual Impact Report giving a glimpse of the significant achievements made in 2024. These achievements were made possible with the collective dedication of our staff, trustees, volunteers, event leaders, supportive landowners and our ever-growing network of Members. Our heartfelt thank-you goes to everyone who shared our vision and contributed to another year of success.
Do you like our work and want to help us do more of it? One of the easiest ways to support us is by becoming a Member. Sign up here and join hands with us today!
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A Burrenbeo Members’ Webinar
‘Nurturing nature on your own patch’
with Sharon Parr
8pm, Wednesday 12th February
We all want to look after nature on our own patch of ground, but fear of doing ‘the wrong thing’ leaves many scared to start. This talk will: look at how you can develop your own ‘plan for nature’; answer some common questions; and help you to identify, create and manage a variety of habitats to boost your local biodiversity – whether in a garden, a field or a farm. By the end, everyone should have the confidence to do something for nature – however small. After a previous life as a veterinary parasitologist, Sharon has spent 22 years working the the Burren, first mapping habitats and then on the development of results-based agri-environmental programmes. As part of Burrenbeo’s Hare’s Corner initiative, she has spent the past two years combining her love of nature with the lessons learned working in the Burren to develop individual ‘Plans for Nature’ for people across Clare, Galway and Mayo. Registration link is emailed to members. You can become a member at burrenbeo.com . Recording of the talk will be made available on our Youtube channel afterwards.
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Tea Talk
‘Cave excavations at Poulbaun: insights into life during the Bronze Age and medieval period’ – Dr Marion Dowd
8pm, Wednesday 19th February, Tubber Village Hall
In 2021, a small cave was discovered at Poulbaun in the Burren uplands. Archaeological material was visible in the sediments which led to an archaeological excavation in 2022 on behalf of the National Monuments Service. Despite the small size of the cave, it had been used by various farming communities in the Burren over 4,000 years, from the Late Neolithic through the Bronze Age and into the High Medieval period. This talk, originally scheduled for last December was cancelled due to bad weather conditions and has now been rescheduled in February. All welcome, suggested donation of 5 euros for the upkeep of the hall. Kettle will be on from 7:30pm for a cuppa and talk will begin at 8pm at Tubber hall.
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The Hare’s Corner
Update
Our Hare’s Corner initiative (burrenbeo.com/thc) which offers landowners practical support in making more space for nature – through creation of ponds, woodlands, orchards and ‘plans for nature’ – is all set to be rolled out in 6 different counties in 2025. This year landowners (including schools and community groups) in counties Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Carlow, Meath and Offally will be eligible to apply. A call for applications will go live by early March. If you would like to be notified when the call is announced, please enter your details in our notification form. Burrenbeo Members will also be notified by email and any applicants that are Burrenbeo Members will be given priority ranking during the selection process. You can sign up for Burrenbeo Membership here – your contribution will go a long way in supporting the overall work of Burrenbeo Trust which is an independent national landscape charity that receives no core funding.
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The Heritage Keepers
Update
We are now processing the Action Plan grant applications from the almost 50 community groups and schools that completed our Heritage Keepers programme in December 2024. There is a great range of wonderful plans and we look forwarding to seeing them all become a reality. Our second group of budding Heritage Keepers have begun their 5-week programme in January. We are also delighted to announce that this widely successful and research backed programme has received funding from the Department of Education for 2025. This will allow the programme to expand into providing Continuous Personal Development Courses for all teachers across Ireland. These CPD courses will include: ‘Biodiversity Basics: Exploring Nature in Your Schoolyard’ ; ‘Unveiling Cultural Treasures in Your Community’ and ‘Discovering Your Local Built Heritage’.
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Farming for Nature
Update
Farming For Nature have a busy month ahead. We have received in our nominations for the Ambassadors Awards 2025 this week. We now need to interview each before we go forward and visit the shortlisted farms. We have recently launched our February Ambassadors from last years awards: Seán Gilligan and Rob Kennedy who run a 10-hectare mixed farm in Strandhill, Co. Sligo. They sell vegetables from their one-acre market garden, eggs from 300 pasture-raised hens and regenerative beef through their popular farm shop. They are consistently selling out, in this, just their fourth season of farming. Why not join us for their online Q&A next Tuesday night 11th February at 8pm – just register here. Have you got some land and want to know what to do this February, why not get some exciting tips for encouraging nature on your land here.
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Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers Update
The 2024 BCV Newsletter is out now – from archaeological excavations to tree seed collecting and cillín recording, you can check out all the wonderful heritage conservation actions taken by the BCVs in the Burren in the past year. February will see them return to a lesser horseshoe bat site for conservation maintenance of the roost site, and they will also continue the work at Fahee North, manually clearing encroaching scrub from an important butterfly breeding habitat. To join our volunteers group, please email [email protected]
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Members’ Walks
Our January walk with Ballyvaughan Fanore walking club had to be cancelled due to bad weather conditions but will be rescheduled soon. The February walk will take place in Fanore in the company of two wonderful local history enthusiasts. Booking links for walks are emailed to Burrenbeo Members. To become a member please visit https://burrenbeo.com/support-us/become-a-member/
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Burrenbeo now on Instagram
Burrenbeo has added Instagram to its social platforms. So you can now also follow us on this Instagram account for all the latest Burrenbeo news and events!
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For information on ongoing community initiatives and events, please scroll down on the
Community News and Events page Burrenbeo Business Members’ News in brief:
Irish T-shirts – A warm welcome to our newest Business friend. This family business based at the Cliffs of Moher strives to be socially and ecologically responsible in their practices, sourcing certified ethically and environmentally responsible clothing.
Airmid Natural Handmade Soap, Skincare, Candles and Gifts is produced in small batches, locally in Kilfenora. Their retail shop on Main St, Ennistymon is open Wednesday to Saturday.
Burren Perfumery are proud winners of the Irish Fragrance Brand of the year at the Image awards, by public vote. They have ‘An Introduction to Candle Making’ workshop on February 22nd.
Doolin Ferry has unveiled the latest addition to its fleet – Cliffs Of Moher Express. This brand-new, custom-built ship will be the fastest ferry to the Aran Islands and redefine the experience of viewing the Cliffs of Moher by sea.
St.Tola Goats Cheese – was invited to represent ‘Celebrating Women In The Cheese Industry’, organised by The Consulate General of Ireland. Their nanny goats have started to kid to kick off the season and they are open for tours.
The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark’s annual evening course ‘Stone, Water and Ice: The Burren – a landscape shaped by Time’ in collaboration with Limerick Clare Education and Training Board is fully booked again this year.
For full information on our Business Members’ News and Events, please click here.
Support Burrenbeo’s Business friends |
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Burrenbeo Trust is a landscape charity that does not receive any core funding. We work hard to sustain our 25 plus programmes each year, connecting people with place and their role in caring for them. There are many ways you can support us.
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