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You are here: Home / Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers

Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers

The Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers (BCV)  are an active voluntary community of volunteers working towards the sustainable management of the Burren by addressing key conservation issues and needs in the region. They were set up in 2010 by the Burrenbeo Trust to answer a need of active conservation work on the ground in the Burren region and to enable people to help protect the future of such a fragile place..

In a region of decreasing rural population key conservation issues such as scrub encroachment and the rebuilding of stone walls are becoming harder to tackle. The Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers (BCVs) was born out of a need for hands-on conservation worker. By training groups of volunteers Burrenbeo Trust is actively supporting a sustainable future for the Burren.

The BCV committee

The BCV committee were set up in 2012 to guide the BCV’s, ensuring that events were varied, met a definite need in the Burren and gave our volunteers the best volunteering experience possible. Not only do they meet in their own time but they also rotate for leading events to make sure that our high health and safety standards are met on all events.

Meet the current committee:

   

Past committee members (for which we are eternally grateful for all their time and input) include:

Martin Gowran                             Stephen Lester             Anne Mullen
Ruth Hollingsworth                    Paula McHale               Elaine O’Malley
Mary Howard                                Richard Morrison        Stephen Ward

BCV projects

The volunteers work on a number of projects and have many more in sight in order to make a valuable impact. Our main projects include:

  • 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. Working as a collective, 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 locally in the Burren by creating an inclusive environment for people to come together, share their passion for conservation and be part of a growing, energetic and welcoming community.

When it comes to conserving this beautiful Burren landscape, we all have a part to play – we just need to identify it. The power of local communities is a transferable skill which can be experienced the world over and each and every one has something to give.

Who can join the volunteers?

Everyone is welcome to get involved – the more the better, so come join us – its free, just your time is needed! Events are most suitable for over 18’s, under 18’s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. To register with the Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers email volunteer@burrenbeo.com.

Volunteer award scheme

In 2018 we realised just how much  work on the ground the BCV’s had carried out with no real recognition of the amount of time individuals had donated, so we set up an award scheme to show our appreciation of all our hard working volunteers.

It’s as simple as it sounds – once a volunteer has attended 5 events since the start of the scheme they are rewarded with a gentian pin badge, after 10 events a BCV beanie hat, and so on…

Upskill and training

Invaluable skills are developed through training courses and workshops which are there to encourage learning, build confidence and ensure safety at all times. The group is open, welcoming and tirelessly attempts to engage with wider communities and enlist a broad spectrum of experts – driving home the importance of conservation. Each conservation action day is led by an expert. These professional leaders are in the position to up-skill and impart knowledge to volunteers on a specific subject. With some leaders, the BCVs carry out on-going conservation work to support sustainable impact where needed. Other action days may be a one-off situation that needs addressing. The leaders have the experience and enthusiasm to lead the group through the task. We are hugely grateful to all our leaders.

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, Volunteer

Why not join us

So, are you interested to be part of maintaining the Burren’s history, culture and precious ecosystems? If so, why not join the fun and enthusiastic team of conservation volunteers, share your passion for the Burren with others and make a huge difference to the biodiversity and maintenance of this unique landscape. Becoming a volunteer offers you an opportunity to build skills, knowledge about place and indeed, lasting friendships.

This is an active group of conservation volunteers that have been working in areas of archaeology conservation, rare species monitoring, managing scrub encroachment and much more since 2010. The BCV hold monthly events.  Find the links below to the ones that interest you.

Please note that all our event leaders and experts are volunteers (many of whom have full time employment elsewhere) and often give much of their precious free time to helping run volunteer events. For this reason it is difficult to run one off events for groups visiting the Burren. The Burrenbeo Trust can occasionally organise such events but they are at a cost to cover the time of the leaders and experts on the day. Email info@burrenbeo.com for more details.

Why should you get involved?

  • 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

Join us today and make that difference! To register for the events email volunteer@burrenbeo.com

Led by the community

The Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers comes under the umbrella of the Burrenbeo Trust for insurance and administration but has its own committee of community members that guide and support the group. Kate Lavender who works in the Burrenbeo Trust is the Volunteer Coordinator.

The committee consists of:

Eileen O’ Connor (Chair), Kate Lavender (Secretary), Margaret Duffy,  Ruth Hollingsworth, Anne Mullen, Ritchie Jones, Mike Scanlon and Wendy Smith

Who leads the events:

Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers relies on members of the community to lead the volunteer days.   Current leaders include Mary Howard, Ritchie Jones, Kate Lavender, Clodagh and Michael Lynch, Anne Mullen, Eileen O’Connor, Sharon Parr, Wendy Smith and Mike Scanlon.  We are grateful to all our leaders past and present for the immense time and energy they give to coordinating events on a voluntary level. All our leaders are first aid training.

Which experts support the up-skilling and training of the volunteers:

Many of the volunteer events are about further educations 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.  Below are who we have worked with regularly in the past 12 month or so.

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.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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, nr Carron.

Jesmond Harding is a founding member of Butterfly Conservation Ireland.  A huge butterfly enthusiast and author of ‘Discovering Irish Butterflies and their Habitats’ has been working with the volunteers since 2010 on managing a site call Fahee North near Carran which is the host of many 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 bcv2monuments 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 Michael is the Field Monument Advisor for Co. Clare.

Dr Sharon Parr is the Scientific Officer with the Burren Programme which follows on from the award-winning EU project  – The Burren farming for conservation project, BurrenLife.  She is the BSBI vice-county recorder for Co.Clare.  Sharon works with the volunteers on numerous ecological related projects.  Her main site is the clearing of encroaching species at Cappagh Tower house nr 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 work with our volunteers in pre-evacuation surveys around Roughan hill near to 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 to Ruan.

Paula McHale is part of the team at the Burren Life 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. However, there have been some grants that have helping with training of the groups:

2018: Clean Coasts
2015: IPB Community Fund & Galway Education Board Fund
2011: The Ireland Funds

See more here on:

Ongoing projects   Upcoming events for volunteers

What have the volunteers achieved?

View below all the activities that the Burrenbeo Conservation volunteers have achieved so far:

WhenGeneral AreaWhatWhereLeaderFrom
2021BiodiversityPine Project Site Guardian TrainingTubber areaBernard Carey and Brendan Dundord
2021ConservationCoastal Clean UpFanoreK. LavenderBCV
2020ArchaeologyMonument site maintenanceCappaghS. ParrBurren Programme
2020BiodiversityHabitat MaintenanceCarron AreaBCV committeeBCV
2020BiodiversityHabitat MaintenanceCarron areaJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2020ArchaeologyMonument site managementNoughevalM&C LynchLocal archaeologists
2019BiodiversityBat site managementDromoreR. HollingsworthBCV
2019ConservationDrystone wallingPoulacarronJ. Marrinan/M. ScanlonLocal farmer/BCV
2019ConservationCoastal Clean UpFanore Caravan Park coastlineK. LavenderBCV
2019ConservationCoastal Clean UpFanoreE. O'ConnorBCV
2019ConservationMonument site managementNoughavalMichael and Clodagh Lynch
2019TrainingFirst aid training CarronBarry RedmondFirst Response
2018BiodiversityBat site managementDromoreR. HollingsworthBCV
2018ConservationCoastal Clean upFanoreW. Smith/P. McHaleBCV
2018ConservationOpen DayBallyvaughanVariousBCV committee
2018BiodiversityHabitat restorationNorth BurrenA. MullenBurren Programme
2018BiodiversityBat monitoring trainingKinvaraR. HanniffyVincent Wildlife Trust
2018ConservationCoastal Clean UpFanoreE. O'Connor/K. LavenderBCV
2018BiodiversityBat site managementDromoreR. HollingsworthBCV
2018ConservationCoastal Clean upMurrough, BlackheadK. LavenderBurrenbeo Trust
2018ArchaeologyMonument site MaintenanceBaurM&C Lynch
2018TrainingREC 2 first aid courseTuroughB. RedmondFirst Response
2017ArchaeologyMonument site managementBallycasheenRos O'MaolduinPrehistoric Field School of Archaeology
2017BiodiversityButterfly site managementFahee, CarronAnn MullenBurren Life
2017ConservationConservation Volunteering Open DayCarronBCV committee
R. O'Maolduin
J. Harding
BCV
Fieldschool of Prehistoric Archaeology
Butterfly Conservation Ireland
2017BiodiversityBat site maintenance DromoreR. Hollingsworth and S. BigganeBCV and Clare Co Co
2017BiodiversityConstructing a bat night roostFiddaunR. Hanniffy and K. McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2017ConservationTrail managementNewtown, BallyvaughanR. MorrisonIn conjunction with the Burren College or Art
2017ConservationDrystone wall repairCoolortaR. JonesBCV
2017ConservationCoastal clean upFanoreE. O'ConnorBCV
2017ConservationCoastal clean upFanoreVarious expertsBCV, Burren Shores
2017ArchaeologySite ManagementRoughan HillRos O'MaolduinNUI Galway
2016ArchaeologySite managementRoughan HillRos O'MaolduinNUI Galway
2016Invasive Alien SpeciesMapping IASCarronP. MurphyEireco
2016Special MonitoringBat breeding site maintenanceFiddaunDr Kate McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2016Landscape managementCoastal clean up rocky shore FanoreFanore
2016Landscape managementFanore beach cleanFanore
2016ArchaeologyPost excavation work (Mar,Apr,May,Jun)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2016Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2016Monument managementScrub clearing from monuments on Roughan Hill CorofinDr Ros O MaolduinNUI Galway
2016WallingRepairing and rebuilding walls at CoolortaBurren National Park
2016Special MonitoringBat breeding site maintenanceRuanDr Kate McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2016General TrainingButterfly transect trainingCarronPaula McHale
2015Landscape managementCoastal clean up rocky shore FanoreBlackhead
2015Landscape managementCoastal clean up rocky shore FanoreBlackhead
2015Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2015Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2015ArchaeologyPost excavation work KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2015ArchaeologyPost excavation workKilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2015ArchaeologySurveying at Fanore KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2015ArchaeologyPrehistoric hut site mapping KilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2015ArchaeologyDoolin dig (4 weeks)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2015ArchaeologyKilcorney excavation (1 week)KilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2015Archaeology TrainingArtefact handling courseCaherconnellDr Michelle ComberNUI Galway
2015Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2015Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2015Special MonitoringBat breeding site maintenanceRuanDr Kate McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2015Special MonitoringBat site maintenance and emergence countRuanDr Kate McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2015Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Walk with a DifferenceCarron
2015General TrainingButterfly transect trainingPaula McHale
2015General TrainingInvasive alien species ID workshop Dr Sharon Parr, Paul Murphy & Kate Lavender
2015General TrainingTwo day first aid courseRay Murphy
2014Landscape managementCoastal clean up Blackhead
2014Landscape managementCoastal clean up Blackhead
2014Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2014Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2014ArchaeologySurveying and mappingKilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2014ArchaeologyPost excavation work KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2014ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2014ArchaeologyPost excavation workKilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2014ArchaeologySurveying at DoolinDoolinMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2014ArchaeologySecond Fanore excavation (3 weeks)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2014Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2014Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2014WallingRepairing and rebuilding walls at CoolortaBurren National Park
2014WallingRepairing and rebuilding walls at CoolortaBurren National Park
2014Other eventsDismantling mini-dolmens FanoreMary HowardVolunteer
2014Special MonitoringBat breeding site maintenanceRuanDr Kate McAneyVincent Wildlife Trust
2014Other eventsDismantling mini-dolmens FanoreMary HowardVolunteer
2014Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Walk with a DifferenceFlaggy Shore
2014Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Winterage weekendBellharbour
2013Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Bells across the Burren Ballyvaughan
2013Landscape managementCoastal clean up rocky shore Fanore
2013Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2013Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2013ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2013ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2013ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2013ArchaeologyAtlas mapping dayKilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2013ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2013Monument managementScrub clearing from around Doolin Court TombDoolinDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2013WallingRepairing and rebuilding walls at CoolortaBurren National Park
2013Other eventsNewtown music trail clearing BallyvaughanDr Stephen WardVolunteer
2013Other eventsNewtown music trail clearing BallyvaughanDr Stephen WardVolunteer
2013Other eventsDismantling mini-dolmens FanoreMary HowardVolunteer
2013Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Walk with a DifferenceFlaggy Shore
2013General TrainingButterfly transect trainingCarronPaula McHale
2013General TrainingTwo day first aid courseRay Murphy
2013General TrainingWildflower identification workshop Drs Sharon Parr and Stephen Ward
2012Landscape managementCoastal clean up Blackhead
2012Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2012Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2012Archaeology5 week excavation at Fanore Shell Midden FanoreMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2012ArchaeologyFilling in Fanore dig (2 days)FanoreMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2012ArchaeologyPost excavation work (2 days)KilnaboyMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2012Archaeology TrainingAtlas trainingCarronDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2012Archaeology TrainingAtlas trainingCarronDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2012Monument managementScrub clearing at Cappagh Tower HouseCarronDr Sharon ParrBurren Life
2012WallingRepairing walls at Blackhead FanoreShane CaseyBiodiversity Officer
2012Walling TrainingWorkshopRory O'ShaughnessyStone Mason
2012Other eventsDismantling mini-dolmens FanoreMary HowardVolunteer
2012Assisting with local community eventsAssisting with Walk with a DifferenceBurren National Park
2012General TrainingButterfly transect trainingCarronDr Bryony Williams
2012General TrainingMapping SkillsCarronPat Cronin
2012General TrainingWeekend Heritage CourseCarron
2011Landscape managementLough Bunny Spring Clean
2011Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2011Habitat managementScrub clearing to control invasive cotoneasterAbbey Hill Shane CaseyBiodiversity Officer
2011ArchaeologyPreparing site for excavation at Caherconnell CaherconnellDr Michelle ComberNUI Galway
2011ArchaeologyKilcorney excavation (5 days)KilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2011ArchaeologySurveying at Fanore FanoreMichael & Clodagh LynchField Monument Advisor
2011Monument managementScrub clearing from around Doolin Court TombDoolinDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2011Assisting with local community eventsStewarding for Burren triathlonBallyvaughan
2011General TrainingWeekend Heritage CourseCarron
2010Landscape managementFanore beach clean
2010Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2010Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2010Habitat managementScrub clearing at butterfly breeding siteFahee northJesmond HardingButterfly Conservation Ireland
2010ArchaeologySettlement surveyingKilcorneyDr Christine GrantNational Monument Service
2010WallingRepairing walls at Blackhead FanoreShane CaseyBiodiversity Officer
2010Walling TrainingWorkshopRory O'ShaughnessyStone Mason
2010Assisting with local community eventsAnnual Biodiversity dayKinvara

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The BurrenBeo Trust is an Irish charitable company limited by guarantee. Charity number 16834.
Glebe House, Glebe Road, Kinvara, County Galway, H91 C3X2, Ireland. Email info@burrenbeo.com. Telephone 091 638 096

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