Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers
The Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers (BCVs) form an active community that works towards the sustainable management of the Burren by addressing key conservation issues and needs in this special place. The group was set up in 2010 by the Burrenbeo Trust as an answer to the need of coordinated, hands-on conservation work in the Burren region; enabling members of the (local) community to work for the benefit of this inspiring but fragile environment.
The Burren region is no exception to experiencing a decline in rural population, and as a consequence key conservation issues (e.g. scrub encroachment on archaeological monuments) are becoming harder to tackle. By training and upskilling a (local) community of volunteers, Burrenbeo Trust is actively supporting a sustainable future for the Burren.
Guided by a dedicated voluntary committee, the BCVs are a welcoming group of people, always on the look-out for new members, new conservation opportunities and new (community) groups to work in partnership with.
The BCV newsletter
The BCV committee shares updates on BCV work through an annual newsletter. Read the latest 2024 newsletter HERE!
Older newsletters:
The BCV committee
Set up in 2010, the BCV committee ensures that monthly BCV events are varied, meet a definite conservation need in the Burren and give volunteers the best experience possible. The committee members meet 3-4 times per year and rotate as event leaders to make sure that high health and safety standards are met during events.
The current committee members are: Kate Lavender (Chair), Karen van Dorp (Trust liaison/Coordinator), Eileen O’Connor (Secretary), Mike Scanlon, Margaret Duffy, Louise Brogan and Risteard Crimmins.
Past committee members to which we are very grateful for all their hard work include Martin Gowran, Stephen Lester, Anne Mullen, Ruth Hollingsworth, Paula McHale, Elaine O’Malley, Mary Howard, Richard Morrison, Stephen Ward, Wendy Smith, Ritchie Jones, and Tony Galvin.
BCV work
The BCVs are involved in a range of conservation and maintenance projects in the Burren region:
- Archaeological excavation and survey work
- Dry Stone Walling
- Scrub management
- Species monitoring
- Landscape management
- Invasive species
The power of teamwork
We all know that working in teams can get the job done much faster – well, this is definitely the case when it comes to scrub clearing, stone wall building, archaeological digs, invasive species mapping, clean coast initiatives…the list goes on. Building a bank of active volunteers and collaborating with other local organisations who share the same vision has proven to be half the battle when making positive efforts towards conservation of Burren heritage. The Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers create an inclusive environment for people to come together, share their passion and be part of a growing, energetic and welcoming community.
Volunteer award scheme
At Burrenbeo Trust, we recognise the importance of volunteers. We know time is precious and to show our appreciation for the hard work that is being carried out by individuals on a voluntary basis, an award scheme has been in place since 2018.
When volunteers have attended five BCV events they are rewarded with a pin, after ten events with a BCV tote bag, and with a BCV travel mug after fifteen events.
Upskilling and training
Through volunteering, BCVs develop invaluable skills by attending training courses and workshops. This encourages learning and builds confidence. The group attempts to engage with the wider community and enlists a broad spectrum of experts, driving home the importance of conservation.
These experts lead events where appropriate and are in the position to upskill volunteers on a specific subject through their experience, knowledge and passion. With some leaders, the BCVs carry out on-going conservation work to support sustainable impact where needed.
All BCV committee members receive professional Remote Emergency Care II training on an on-going basis; ensuring safety standards are met during events.
The Voice of the Volunteer
The Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers is conservation through education. For me, it has been a most enjoyable, rewarding and learning experience. I have met some wonderful people and have made many new friends. Farmers who want to protect butterfly sites, landowners who want to preserve archaeological sites, communities and families who come out to clean up our coastline, all volunteering to made a difference in the Burren. Our projects have been so varied, but for me, I became ‘hooked’ on archaeology. As a result and with little encouragement, I went onto study Archaeology at NUIG where I received a first class honours diploma. The learning for all volunteers continues on each of the projects with the knowledge and commitment of the many experts who have come involved in the BCVs.
(Mary Howard, Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteer)
Join us!
Would you like to take an active role in conservation management of Burren heritage? You are most welcome to join the Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers who share a passion for all aspects of this unique landscape.
- Get outdoors, enjoy some healthy exercise and give something back in the region
- Learn new skills in conservation and heritage management
- Be part of a friendly, inclusive and active conservation community
Everyone is welcome to get involved! Joining the BCVs is free and events are most suitable for adults (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult). Email volunteer@burrenbeo.com to register as a Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteer. You will receive monthly updates on events by email.
Event coordinators
Event coordinators include all members of the BCV committee as well as Michael and Elaine Lynch. We are grateful to all our leaders past and present for the immense time and energy they give to coordinating events.
Expert leaders
Many events are about further educating the volunteers around a certain area of conservation. We are hugely grateful too all the experts past and present that have support this up-skilling and training.
Dr Michelle Comber is an archaeologist based out of NUI Galway. She is highly involved in running the Caherconnell Fort archaeology summer school. Michelle has done artefact training and pre-dig survey work with the volunteers.
Dr Christine Grant works with the National Monuments Service. Much of the Burren holds an unknown amount of unrecorded forts, mound walls, wedge tombs etc.; many of which are not being protected and are being damaged in some cases due to lack of awareness and are becoming overgrown with hazel scrub. In order to work towards conserving the archaeology of
the Burren, the volunteers have been working closely with the National Monument Officer for the region, in clearing scrub, doing preliminary excavations and helping out with survey work. The main bulk of work that the volunteers have done with Christine is at Kilcroney, near Carron.
Jesmond Harding is a founding member of Butterfly Conservation Ireland. A huge butterfly enthusiast and author of ‘Discovering Irish Butterflies and their Habitats’, Jesmond has been working with the volunteers since 2010 on managing a site in Fahee North (near Carron) which hosts several species of butterflies including the rare Marsh Fritillary. By managing the encroaching hazel scrub the volunteers are helping this rare butterfly increase its breeding potential.
Michael and Clodagh Lynch have been working in archaeology in the Burren for over 15 years. They have surveyed numerous 
monuments in the Burren including many previously unrecorded sites. Their main interest is in prehistoric archaeology and their recent excavations at Fanore More and Doolin are part of their research. Much of this work has been carried out with the assistance of the Burren Conservation Volunteers.
Dr Sharon Parr was the Scientific Officer with the Burren Programme which follows on from the award-winning EU project The Burren farming for conservation project, BurrenLife. Sharon works with the volunteers on numerous ecological related projects. Her main site is the clearing of encroaching species at Cappagh Tower house near Carron.
Dr Ros Ó Maoldúin is an archaeologist based out of NUI Galway. He has a particular interest in the Bronze Age era of Ireland. He is the field director of the Irish Fieldschool of Prehistoric Archaeology. Ros has worked with our volunteers in pre-evacuation surveys around Roughan hill near Corofin.
Dr Kate McAney and Ruth Hanniffy work for the Vincent Wildlife Trust. They promote mammal conservation and research through lectures, bat walks and publications. They have been working with the volunteers in helping restore an important bat roosting site near Ruan.
Paula McHale is part of the team at the BurrenLife farming for conservation programme. She is also the regional coordinator of butterfly transects for the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Paula has been key in training the volunteers in butterfly transects and in invasive species.
Rory O’Shaughnessey works closely with the volunteers on dry stone walling and the importance of these walls in natural, built and cultural heritage of the Burren. Rory is a heritage specialist in schools and descends from one of the oldest clans in the Burren Lowlands. A graduate of NUIG and UCC he divides the year as a tour guide, stonemason and an educator and has been involved in devising, delivering and tutoring on numerous and diverse courses in the heritage field from stone walling to genealogy to archaeology. Rory has been working with the volunteers on walling out on Blackhead, between Ballyvaughan and Fanore.
Who has supported volunteers?
We are grateful to all individuals that join and give their time to the volunteer and to our grant providers (Clean Coasts, GRETB).