Burrenbeo Snapshot May 2022

8pm, Wednesday, 11th May

A Burrenbeo Members’ Webinar

This talk will outline where the Burren fits in the geological timescale and the evolution of plants, the variety of plant fossils found in the Carboniferous rocks of the Burren region and what they tell us about the ancient environment that formed the Burren. Dr. Eamon Doyle is the geologist for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. He has a particular interest in palaeontology, the study of fossils and ancient life. Registration link is emailed to members. You can become a member at burrenbeo.com

Recordings will be made available on our Youtube channel afterwards.

Burren in Bloom

Thur 19th – Sunday 22th May

Places have been going fast but are still available for some of the Burren in Bloom events. At the informal opening session on the evening of Fri 20th May at Tully’s bar in Kinvara we will celebrate our natural world with a miscellany of speakers from near and far. On Sat 21st May in Burren College of Art, Ballyvaughan we will hear from butterfly expert Jesmond Harding and ecologist Richard Nairn about their latest work. Children will have the chance to learn to draw many of the Burren’s wild mammals with Gordon D’Arcy on Saturday afternoon and explore the bugs and blooms out in the Burren on Sunday 22nd of May. For those who can’t make it to the Burren at this time, we also have an online talk on Thursday evening with the masterful Mattijs Schouten, an environmental philosopher who spearheaded bog conservation in Ireland and whose scientific work focuses on cultural perceptions of nature. Check out other Burren in Bloom events and programme details at the link above.

 ‘Burren Girl: The Search for an Irish Clan and its legacy’

Film Screening: 8pm, Wed 4th May, Hotel Doolin

Burrenbeo member Rita Davern will bring her award-winning documentary film, Burren Girl to Hotel Doolin for its Irish premiere. This emigrant descendant retraces her grandmother Anne Davoren’s life before leaving Carrowduff townland near Lahinch for the U.S. in 1887. The film artfully weaves in both the ancient farming history of the Burren and a vibrant picture of its present-day inhabitants. The backdrop of it all is the illustrious history of one of the traditional clans of the Burren, the Ó Dubhdábhoireann (O’Davoren). Entry is free with donations welcome for Burrenbeo Trust. Booking essential at the link above.

Upcoming events in June and July Learning Landscape Symposium: 17th – 19th June 

The annual Learning Landscape symposium will comprise of a mixture of indoor workshops, outdoor fieldtrips, discussions, and networking events, and is open to anyone with an interest in communicating natural, built, or cultural heritage and sustainability to their audiences and inspiring action. Places are limited and tickets for the weekend start at €65. For more info and booking please visit the link above.

Áitbheo Heritage Trainers course provides primary school teachers and other educators with some simple strategies and resources through which they can effectively integrate the learning resource of their local environment into the school curriculum. The course is approved by the Department of Education and fulfills the requirements for EPV days for National School teachers. Further info at the link above.

2pm, Friday 6th May Kilfenora

Local archaeologist Elaine Lynch is running a 3 week long archaeological training excavation at a site near Nougheval, Kilfenora and will be having an open afternoon on Friday 6th May 2pm for anyone who might be interested in coming to see what a real life excavation looks like, and to see any artefacts that have been found. Places must be booked (for free) and full details of location and what to expect will be sent upon booking through the link above. Thank you also to all the volunteers who turned up for An Taisce National Spring Clean at Fanore beach on 16th April – a lot of rubbish was collected, especially around the river mouth and the rocky shore south of the beach. Email volunteer@burrenbeo.com if you would like to join the BCV group.

Burrenbeo Members’ Walks

April Members’ Walks had Burren farmers Michael Davoren in Caherconnell and Michael and Melanie O’Donoghue in Ballyvaughan host participants on their farms and share wonderful insights into their farming stories and practices. May will have both a dawn chorus walk with naturalist Gordon D’Arcy on 1st of May and a dusk chorus walk with ornithologists Tom and Nuala Lynch on 19th of May to enjoy the birdsong season. Registration links and details are sent to members. To become a member of Burrenbeo Trust visit https://burrenbeo.com/support-us/become-a-member/

We are delighted to say that we are preparing to roll out a second call for applications for The Hare’s Corner project which will see more landowners in Co.Clare supported to take actions for biodiversity. Do keep an eye on our website and social media channels and register to be notified by email at burrenbeo.com/thc. The first phase of this project which was launched in September 2021, supported the creation of 29 ponds, 43 mini orchards -with Irish heritage apple trees from Irish Seed Savers Association and 38 native mini woodlands – a wonderful investment in the natural infrastructure of the County. The Hare’s Corner is being funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) through The European Innovation Partnerships Initiative (EIP)/Locally led schemes as well as the Clare County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Heritage Keepers

Programme Update

Delivery of the Heritage Keepers programme to 5 primary schools, 4 secondary schools and 10 community groups, as well as educators and facilitators from different parts of Ireland is nearing completion. The resulting action plans are being submitted to us and we are excited to support these groups working to enhance the heritage of their local places. Examples of some of the brilliant plans include; producing an oral history project in Bere island; adoption of the river Delvin in Ardcath by its local community; bird and habitat survey in Labasheeda, creation of heritage graffiti art in Lusk community school.