Burrenbeo Snapshot November 2021

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Burrenbeo November 2021 Snapshot

Burren farmers often talk about the value of the ‘dry lie’. This refers to the underfloor-heating system of sorts provided by the Burren’s 700m-thick limestone bedrock upon which the cattle outwinter. The bedrock acts like a storage heater, absorbing summer heat and gradually releasing it over winter. The very thin, free-draining soils which sporadically cloak this bedrock rarely get muddy, hence the clean, healthy appearance of outwintering stock from the Burren (image above) – in contrast to their bovine brethren elsewhere!

Thank you as ever for your continued interest in and support of our work. For those who do not yet, we invite you to Support Us by becoming a member or donating.

Burren Winterage Weekend a resounding success!

The 10th Burren Winterage Weekend (20th-24th October) was an amazing weekend of high nature value farming workshops, farm walks, keynote talks, Farming for Nature awards, artisanal cheese and beef tasting events, children’s writing workshop, poetry reading and music, all culminating with the flagship event of Community Cattle Drive. Most of the events took place in-person in Kinvara, Co. Galway and its neighbouring Burren farms while some were broadcast online via Zoom. (Recordings of online talks available on our YouTube channel). Over 400 people turned up for the Winterage Cattle Drive to partake in Ireland’s most ancient pastoral tradition by accompanying Burren farmers, Frank and Mary McCormack as they herded their cattle on to their upland winterage pastures in Bouleevin, Boston. Our heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers, supporters and participants who helped make this iconic occasion in the Burren such a success.

Heritage Week Award

Burrenbeo was chosen as a Clare County winner for our Heritage Week 2021 programme and as a runner-up for the Wild Child Award for our Wild Child event during Heritage Week. A recording of the online talk – ‘Virtual Tour of the Archaeology on a Burren Farm’ with archaeologists Michael and Elaine Lynch (Field Monument Advisor Programme), organised as part of our Heritage Week programme, is available to view on our YouTube channel.

Our congrats to all the winning projects across Ireland for their fantastic work on protecting & promoting our heritage.

The Hare’s Corner

27 new ponds to be created as part of the pilot project

We received a total of 165 expressions of interest for our new initiative to help landowners in Co.Clare make more space for nature through creation of woodlands, ponds and orchards. 66 applicants have been shortlisted from these on the basis of their site suitability for various biodiversity measures. The sites shortlisted for wetlands work are currently being screened remotely and where possible through in-person visits. We are happy to report that as a result of this, 27 new ponds will be created at various locations across Co.Clare before the end of this year. This biodiversity initiative which is being piloted in Co.Clare is being coordinated by Burrenbeo Trust and funded by the Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine through The European Innovation Partnerships Initiative (EIP)/Locally led schemes, as well as the Clare County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Áitbheo Primary

Just under 100 National School students are settling well into their Aitbheo ‘place’ courses, with Kinvara, Ennistymon and Inagh National Schools taking part this term with great responses from the students involved:
‘I think it is more important to learn about my place as we’re the future and will be protecting it.’
‘I would like to help my place more.’
‘I think we could do more for our places for future generations.’
‘I feel more confident that I could help make my place better. I feel more interested in my place and that I can help out more.’

BCV work at
Templecronan

Thanks to the team of Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers who came out on the 16th October to move a boundary wall at the Temple Cronan site, Carron, under the expert supervision of local archaeologist Elaine Lynch. This means that now for the first time in possibly over 200 years the two shrines and the church can all be seen together. All work was carried out with Ministerial Consent from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It’s also amazing what can be found in old stone walls so well done Helen for the most exciting find of the day – a piece of sandstone quern stone. The upcoming volunteer events are habitat management (clearing scrub from a nationally important butterfly breeding site) and monument site management (clearing scrub from around a Burren prehistoric monument scheduled for November and December. Email volunteer@burrenbeo.com if you would like to join the BCV group.

Holy Wells in the Burren

with Tony Kirby

8-9pm, Wed 10th Nov, Online

A Wonderful Wednsday Webinar for Burrenbeo Members

At the November members’ webinar we will be joined by Tony Kirby, an experienced Burren walking guide and author of ‘The Burren and the Aran Islands – A Walking Guide’ (Collins Press, 2009) who will be talking about the rich history of the Holy wells in the Burren. Registration link will be emailed to members. You can become a member at burrenbeo.com

For information on ongoing community initiatives and events, please scroll down on the
Community News and Events page

Burrenbeo Business Members’ News in brief:

Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark – are part of a new documentary presented by Dirk Steffens to be released on German TV network ZDF next Spring.

Burren College of Art have a new exhibition – ‘I Trust the Quiet’ by artist Cecilia Danell from October 28-November 26. Opening reception on 28th Oct.

Doolin Ferry company have been nominated for Clare business excellence & resilience awards for Best Tourism Experience and Best use of digital marketing & social media

For full information on our Business Members’ News and Events, please click here.

Support Burrenbeo’s Business friends

We encourage you to support those who support us! Find the full list of our Business Friends or check them out in the image below.

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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