Burren Rocks! May 25th to May 31st 2009
Burren Rocks festival ran from May 25th to May 31st 2009 and was a huge success with attendees from all over North Clare and as far afield as the UK the various walks and talks. Highlights included children's art competition and the Sand City event on Fanore beach which saw over 30 children build a sand city featuring its huge defensive walls, central pond, roundabout and reinforced roads, and it had a petrol station, several shopping centres, an airport, a hospital, an eircom building, a music store, an old folk's home, a volcano, pyramids, a cement factory, a private estate with haunted houses, and many other buildings! The children spent two hours on the beach and collected lots of shells, rope, seaweed, stones, and wood to decorate the buildings and great fun was had by children and adults alike! After we made the city, the kids decided to name the city "Childrensville” and elected Jess the Jack Russell pup the mayor. At the end the kids had great fun destroying their masterpiece, and the little ones spent about 15 mins afterwards jumping into the pond. Another big success was the Rock ID event which showcased lots of interesting rocks, minerals and fossils with samples from North Clare and as far afield as Oman and Nigeria; the prize for the weirdest rock goes to the Collins family for their amazing rudist coral from Oman! Also, the Underground Adventure saw Colin Bunce welcome people from Clare and Tipperary to Cullann Two cave where they spent an hour an a half exploring and discovering the underground delights the cave had to offer.
5th April 2009: Public Geology walk
Burren Connect's Geopark Geologist, Dr Maria McNamara, led a guided geology walk in the Slieve Carran Nature Reserve. The walk was extremely well attended and after a brief initial soaking, the weather cleared up wonderfully!
Thursday 19th March 2009: Public geology talk
Burren Connect's Geopark Geologist, Dr Maria McNamara, gave a public talk on the geology of the Burren at the Burrenbeo Centre in Kinvara. The talk was well attended and was followed by many questions from inquisitive members of the audience!
19th February 2009: Galway pupil Grace Kelly scoops second prize in NEED logo competition!
To view her entry please click here.
19th January 2009: Geopark Leaflet distrubuted to all homes throughout North Clare.
We look forward to receiving your feedback regarding the Geopark. You can send us your responses by email or post, alternatively you can place your completed questionnaire in a dedicated box at your local Post Office. To download a copy of the Geopark Leaflet, please click here.
3rd December 2008: Entries for logo competition being judged!
Many thanks to all the pupils in 5th and 6th class, and 1st and 2nd year, in the Burren region who submitted entries for the NEED logo competition. We received just over 160 entries from a total of 17 schools! The entries have been sent off to to the judges, who will make their decision on the 12th of December. We have all of our fingers and toes crossed that Irish children will among the winners! To find out more about the NEED project, click here.
3rd December 2008: Coming soon to your door: a Geopark information leaflet!
Following from the November series of public meetings, we are developing a leaflet providing information on Geopark status and will be distributing this leaflet to all households in North Clare in early January. Keep your eyes peeled!
3rd December 2008: Outcome of November series of public meetings
We have now finished collating the responses from the questionnaires and the issues that were raised during the meetings. For our report summarising these results click here.
30th November 2008
Conclusion of November series of public meetings on Geopark status
Our series of nine public meetings concluded on the 18th of November. We wish to thank all those who attended for enduring what were sometimes treacherous driving conditions to make it! Also many thanks to all for your comments and lively discussions. We are currently analysing the results of the questionnaires and will post the results soon. It was suggested at several meetings that a follow-up meeting should take place early in the New Year to discuss the results of the November meetings and to seek a way forward.
If you didn't make it to the November public meetings, but would like to see the presentation on Geoparks, you can download the .ppt files here.
3rd November 2008: First Geopark discussion meeting
The first in a series of public meetings to discuss Geopark status for the Burren begins tonight at 8 pm at the Community Hall, Tubber. All are welcome to attend. Future meetings will be held throughout the Burren until the 18th of November. See below for details.
November 2008
A series of public information meetings, each starting at 8.00 pm, are scheduled for November for the following dates and venues:
Monday 3rd November 2008 Community Hall Tubber 8.00 pm
Tuesday 4th November 2008 The Burren Centre Kilfenora 8.00 pm
Wednesday 5th November 2008 Hotel Doolin Doolin 8.00 pm
Thursday 6th November 2008 The Burren Outdoor Education Centre Turlough, Belharbour 8.00 pm
Monday 10th November 2008 Clare Genealogical Centre Corofin 8.00 pm
Tuesday 11th November 2008 O’Donoghue’s Pub Fanore 8.00 pm
Thursday 13th November 2008 Michael Cusack Centre Carran 8.00 pm
Monday 17th November 2008 Hyland’s Hotel Ballyvaughan 8.00 pm
Tuesday 18th November 2008 XPO Kilnaboy 7.45 pm
July 2008: Public meeting on Geopark status
A public meeting was held in the Falls Hotel on Thursday, the 24th of July at 8.00 pm to discuss the proposed Geopark designation. Dr. Patrick McKeever presented information on the UNESCO designation and the experience of the European Geoparks Network so far (A copy of his presentation will be made available shortly) and Dr. Pat O’Connor outlined the Geological Survey of Ireland’s involvement in, and support for, such a designation for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher. This event provided an opportunity for information sharing, discussion and debate on this issue. The response on the night was generally positive.
July 2008: Geopark Geologist appointed
The Geological Survey of Ireland, Clare County Council and Shannon Development have funded the appointment of a geologist, Dr Maria McNamara, to continue the consultation process with stakeholders and if positive, to prepare the application for Geopark Status. Her work programme involves raising awareness of and respect for the Burren’s geological significance through events, publications, signage and educational programmes and the preparation and organization and development of walking trails and visits to sites of geological significance. She is also involved in the working group for the development of Ecotourism in the Burren.
Dr Maria McNamara, Geopark Geologist, will lead a public geology walk as part of the Burrenbeo Trust Monthly Walk series. Meet at 2 pm at the entrance to the Slieve Carran Nature Reserve. Walk will last approx. 2 hrs. Please bring raingear, sturdy boots, and a drink.
Booking essential; priority is given to Burrenbeo Trust members. To book please email info@burrenbeo.com or telephone
19th March 2009: Public talk on the geology of the Burren
