January 2012
Aspirant Members to join Burren Ecotourism
The Burren Ecotourism Network will welcome the newest group of businesses who will begin their training to become accredited on the 24th January at The Boghill Centre.
Amongst the new group will be Providers of Kayaking, Surfing, Dolphin watch, Yoga, Accommodation and organic meats.
For more information www.burrenecotourism.com
Eco Eye on RTÉ 1 will feature The Burren Ecotourism Network
''As we face mounting environmental challenges and time begins to run out on turning the ecological corner, Eco Eye returns to look at ways that we can move toward a brighter future. Duncan travels the length and breadth of Ireland, and even as far as Austria, to find positive projects which could have tremendous benefits for the future. Meanwhile Tania tours the country looking at how enjoyable an environmentally friendly holiday can be.''
The episode will air on the 24th January 2012 at 7pm.
August 2011
Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark
March 2011
There are more than 650 different flowers, plants, and ferns to be found in this unique area of karst limestone landscape - from Spotted Orchids to Spring Gentians, from Mountain Avens to Purple Orchids. The Festival celebrates the area's rich natural history with a series of events, illustrated talks and musical entertainment ranging from talks on oral and archaelogical heritage, to medicinal herbs, feral goats, setting moth traps and butterflies, flowers, and even a 'Bugs and Beasties' talk for the kids!
For further details and a full downloadable programme of events visit our website at www.burreninbloom.com
January 2011
Burren Connect Project has submitted a short submission for the County Council annual report giving short summary of our work last year for all of the groups and committees we work with.
For more info, click here
December 2010
Members of the Ecotourism Network have been undertaking their Audits this week (13th -17th) in the hope of gaining their Ecotourism accreditation. Each audit last approximately two hours and each business will know early in the New Year whether they have done enough for Ecotourism Ireland Accreditation Standards!
November 2010
Application to European Geopark Network for Geopark Status for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher is submitted.
For more info please click here
October 2010
October 11-16th saw an International conference that was due to take place in April of this year but was cancelled as a result of the Icelandic Volcano take place in the Burren.
Conference delegates from Iceland, Norway and Finland visited educational businesses in the Burren to see how the Burren study modules and learning environments developed in NEED by the Burren Connect Project are being used in this region. It was an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences and develop networks during the visits and workshop sessions.
On Tuesday the trans-national NEED web-site www.GEONEED.org which promotes the modules was launched by Mayor of Clare Christy Curtin at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre. The website has been very well received. All four partners have developed modules based on five geological themes, 1.Climate Change, 2.Elements of Geology, 3.Geological Materials, 4.Landscape and 5.Natural Hazards which are aimed at Businesses, Schools and tourists alike and are now available to download at the website.
The conference ended on Saturday morning after an action packed week was had by all, some of the centres visited included Caherconnell Stone Fort, Burren Centre, Cliffs of Moher as well as a farm visit to Robert Cassidy part of Clare Farm Heritage Tours, a trip up Mullaghmore assisted by Emma Glanville and Seamus Hassett of the NPWS as well as many other events. It was indeed agreed by all delegates that the conference was a huge success.
September 2010
A series of public information evenings on the UNESCO European Geoparks application will take place next week between 7.30 and 9.30 pm at the following dates and locations .
Tuesday 14th September Burren Outdoor Education Centre Bellharbour.
Wednesday 15th September The Pavilion in Lisdoonvarna.
Thursday 16th September The Burren Centre, Kilfenora.
For further information, please contact Edel Hayes Burren Connect Project on 065 7072295 or email ehayes@burren.ie
August 2010
Two short time conract positions available.
Publications Editor– short term contract
Graphic Designer– short term contract
May 2010
Geopark Week
Thursday May 27th 7.30pm
Evening Geology Talk: The Oldest Story of the Burren - A Brief History of the Burren’s Geological Landscape
Venue: The Burren Centre, Kilfenora
Speaker: Dr. Ronán Hennessy – (Burren Connect Geologist)
Friday May 28th 1-2 pm
Dr. Ronán Hennessy, Burren Rocks Week public lecture in association with the Institute for Environment, Marine and Energy and the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences ' A View From the Prom: An Insight into the Burren Hills and Other Landscapes Visible from the Salthill Promenade'. Venue: Orbsen Building Seminar Room, NUI Galway. All Welcome. http://www.nuigalway.ie/eci/news_events/events.html
Saturday May 29th
Burren Caving Trip – starting at BOEC at 11.00am - finishing about 2.00pm. Contact Burren Connect or Ronán rhennessy@burren.ie
May 13th
Completing NEED Geology questionaire earns Kilchreest National School €150!
We were delighted to present Kilchreest National School with a cheque for €150 to be spent on a school tour in the Burren. Third, fourth, fifth and sixth class students along with their teachers will spend a day starting in Kilmacduagh, followed by a walk along the Green Road between Corker Hill and New Quay Church and finishing up in Corcomroe Abbey on May 31st.
Teacher Ann-Marie Hayes completed a short questionnaire which was sent to all schools in the North Clare Region to complete in order to gain a better understanding of what is needed to make a School trip more effective. All who responded had their name thrown in the hat and Kilchreest was the lucky school to win €150, Congratulations once again!
May 2010
Minor Earthquake takes place in Clare!
A magnitude 2.7 earthquake was recorded in County Clare on Thursday(6th May) night.
The quake happened at 10.24pm at a depth of 4.4 kilometres, two kilometres outside the village of Coolmeen, according to Quin Weather.
However, the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), which runs a national seismic network from its base in Merrion Square and receives real time readings from seismograph instruments dotted across the country, says the epicentre of the quake was located in the Lisdoonvarna area.
The tremor, the first to be recorded in Clare since records began in 1978, was felt in various parts of the county including Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna, Liscannor and Doolin where some residents reported hearing a 'loud bang'. One local resident said the quake lasted for 3 to 5 seconds and resulted in pictures falling from the wall. She described the noise created by the quake as being like 'rumbling thunder'.
DIAS spokeserson Tom Blake said: “It is the first time we've had seismic activity in that part of the country. The seismic instruments are very sensitive and can record very minor tremors.”
Mr Blake said he believed the quake had no links to volcanic activity in Iceland which grounded flights with further ash clouds in the skies this week.
No injuries or structural damage have been reported throughout the affected region.
April 2010
Natural hazard prevents International Conference in the Burren! Conference now postponed to October 2010.
Volcano continues to erupt, to see this phenomen click here , once the window opens click on 'horfa'
April 2010
The next Burrenbeo Trust March Walk will take place on Thursday 15th April at 8.30pm, in the Burrenbeo Trust Centre, Kinvara, Co.Galway
'New Perspectives on Old Stones - A Virtual View of the Burren'
Dr Ronán Hennessy carried out his Doctorate in National University of Ireland Galway researching innovative 3D visualisation and multimedia technologies for geoscience education. Ronán is currently the Burren Geopark Geologist with the Burren Connect Project and lectures at NUI Galway. He has worked on various archaeological and landscape projects including the Burren Landscape and Settlement Project, the Galway County Eskers Project, and the Connemara Landscape in 3D project.
September 30th 2009
Burren Programme seeks to prevent Landscape Vandalism
A new environmental maintenance programme was launched today at Ballyallaban where 5th and 6th class students of Ballyvaughan and Lisdoonvarna primary schools, local landowners, and officials from The Burren Connect Project and Clare County Council commenced the process of removing the mini Dolmens.
The maintenance crew from Clare County Council and students were instructed how to remove the stones by Clare County Council Heritage Officer Conjella McGuire, Biodiversity Officer Shane Casey and Burren Connect Geologist Dr. Ronan Hennessey. The maintenance crew will continue to monitor this site regularly to prevent this situation arising again.
July 2009
Burren Geologist win prestigious award!
Dr Maria McNamara has won the Charles Lyell Award Lecture for her work in communicating geology to non-specialist audience. This award is given by the British Scientist Association and is highly respected.
As a result of this honour Maria presented an award lecture, ‘What rots? How dead animals decompose and its importance for decoding the history of life’ during The British Science Festival which took place at the University of Surrey, Guildford and across Surrey from 5-10th September. Maria led the audience through the processes involved in exceptional fossil preservation and how this can illuminate the ecology and physiology of ancient animals.
For more info click here
Thirteen Burren-based businesses were presented with Certificates in Ecotourism at a ceremony in Gregans Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan on July 28th.
As a result of this honour Maria will be presenting an award lecture, ‘What rots? How dead animals decompose and its importance for decoding the history of life’ during The British Science Festival which took place at the University of Surrey, Guildford and across Surrey from 5-10th September. Maria led the audience through the processes involved in exceptional fossil preservation and how this can illuminate the ecology and physiology of ancient animals.
For more info plesae click here
28 July 2009
April 2011
Burren Connect have been asked to become partners in Trans Tourism Project. Tourism is important to the economic and social sustainability of many communities in the Northern Periphery Programme area
Burren Connect is looking at linking up private and public transport services in rural areas to provide a sustainable public transport option for visitors to rural tourism areas. The proposal is to look at all the services available and see if, with a bit of tweaking and innovation, we can provide a flexible system to suit visitor and local demands for public transport. Part of the project is to devise a ‘smart card’ system and also to develop an IT system for advanced bookings and scheduling. The smart card and IT will be developed by the international partners and we will test them out here.
For more info please click here
March 2011
Geology Course
Dr.Ronán Hennessy along with Colin Bunce (Burren Outdoor Education Centre) will run a five week introductory Geology course from March 1st. For more information on this course, please click here
Burren in Bloom
The Seventh Annual Burren in Bloom Festival begins on the 29th of April and runs to the 29th of May - just in time for the arrival of the Burren's spectacular May flowers!
15th December 2008:
The Official Launch of the Burren Connect Interactive Information CD & Burrenbeo Interactive Education Games took place on Monday 15th December at 7.30pm in the Burren Centre, Kilfenora. There was a great turnout and all were very positive about both initiatives.
13th December 20008:
Free one day conference on Burren Archeaology. For more information click here
13th November 2008 : New Section added to this site.
We have added a new section to the website called 'Town and Places' which gives a little more info on where to eat, where to stay etc in the Burren. If you are not represented on the site plase submit the necessary info to me at info@burren.ie with the subject marked 'Towns and Places' and I will add your information accordingly. If you are already there, but you have some more or better information and/or images, please feel free to contact me also. Your feedback on our site is always welcome.
3rd November 2008: Geopark discussion meetings begun
A series of public meetings to discuss Geopark status for the Burren are took place throughout the Burren in November. Click here for full details.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism has become a popular alternative to the mass tourism of recent decades, and has been estimated to be growing at a rate of 10-15% per annum. Ecotourism focuses on ecologically and socially responsible nature based tourism that fosters environmental appreciation and understanding while contributing to the local economy.
The Burren Connect Project has recently organized a number of meetings/workshops on the topic of Ecotourism in the Burren. The first event was a research trip to the Greenbox area in the NW of the country, marketed as ‘Ireland’s first ecotourism destination’, which is the only area in Ireland, north or south, which applies standards, criteria, labeling and training to develop and distinguish its ecotourism product. (Visit http://www.greenbox.ie for further information).
The Greenbox administrative team and certified businesses were in turn invited to a public workshop in the Burren (Kilfenora, May 20th) to discuss their experience with the certification process, its development and application. Details were also given on training programmes. Click here
A further public meeting was organized to discuss how ecotourism might be developed in the Burren. It was agreed at this meeting in Lisdoonvarna, held on the 26th of June (Click here for minutes of the meeting) that a working group should be set up to explore and define an appropriate ecotourism model for the Burren. It was also agreed that the group would be composed of 50% representative of relevant agencies and 50% of businesses. Nominations for the Business positions were invited through the local press. Click here to view ad.
Fifteen nominations were received from tourism related businesses. All nominees and agency representatives attended a meeting where the committe was elected, and agreed terms of reference, a work programme, rotation of representation and public information and meetings. The next meeting is planned for the 15th of October 2008, in the Heritage Centre, Corrofin.
SME Energy Management Workshop
The Limerick Clare Energy Agency in association with National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) and Rural Resource Development will be providing an SME (Small and Medium sizes enterprises) Energy Management Workshop on the following dates from 9am to 1pm:
October 17th - Shannon Development, Head Office, Shannon Town Centre, Co. Clare.
November 14th - Shannon Development, Head Office, Shannon Town Centre, Co. Clare.
This workshop is free of charge and will look at energy topics including:
• Reading Energy bills
• Energy Consumption
• Potential Energy and Emission savings
All SME’s should bring their energy bills to the workshop to complete an Energy Performance Indicator (EPI) and a draft energy policy for their business. Prior to attending the workshop please download the following the EPI Calculator and Draft Energy Policy from our website link http://www.lcea.ie/EnergyManSME.asp.
On completion of the EPI calculation and energy policy SME’s will receive certification from National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) and consultancy advice will be available to those with specific issues.
Please click here to find attached details about the Limerick Clare Energy Agency and the SME Energy Management Workshop. If you would like to take part in the workshops please contact michelle.lanigan@ul.ie or
Participation in the Sligo Institute of Technology course was organised by the Burren Connect Project and subsidised by Responsible Tourism Skillnet.
25th-31st May 2009: Burren Rocks! Festival
Burren Rocks! is a week-long festival taking place this week, the last week of May, in celebration of the fantastic geology and landscape of the Burren. The festival is packed with over 15 events and activities to help you discover not only the geological secrets of the Burren, but also its flora, fauna, history and culture. To download a copy of the festival brochure, please click here.
May 2009: Burren in Bloom events
Ballyvaughan Development Group's month-long festival of the natural history of the Burren, "Burren in Bloom", will be running from May 5th to 31st. The full programme of events will soon be available at www.ballyvaughanireland.com and includes several events with a geological theme.
Sunday 10th May
Guided walk in the Burren looking at rocks, lichens, flowers, and farming. Led by Dr Stephen Ward, Dr Sharon Parr and Dr Maria McNamara. Meet at Spar village stores, Ballyvaughan. Car sharing.
Tuesday 19th May
Illustrated talk: "Fabulous fossil flowers", at the Burren College of Art at 8.30 pm by Dr Maria McNamara.
Tuesday 26th May
Illustrated talk: "The Burren as Geopark", in conjunction with European Geoparks Week, at the Burren College of Art by Dr Maria McNamara.
Wednesday 27th May
Guided walk in the Burren looking at rocks, lichens, flowers, and farming. Led by Dr Stephen Ward, Emma Glanville, and Dr Maria McNamara. Meet at Spar village stores, Ballyvaughan, at 2 pm. Car sharing.
Sunday 31st May
Guided walk in the Burren looking at rocks, lichens, flowers, and farming. Led by Dr Stephen Ward, Emma Glanville, and Dr Maria McNamara. Meet at Spar village stores, Ballyvaughan, at 2 pm. Car sharing.
Summer - Autumn 2009: Monthly geology walks
Starting in July, we will host a monthly geology walk at a different venue in the Burren each month. Details of forthcoming walks will be posted shortly!
January 13, 2009
The Burren Connect Project featured on Eco Eye at 7pm on January 13th. The programme focused on three issues,
1. Green Homes
2. Burren Landscape/Connecting with Nature and
3. Dublin's Flood Risk and Resilience
"In this item Duncan travels to the Burren in Co. Clare to see how the Burren Connect Project is being implemented. Realising the fragile nature of the Burren, a number of agencies have come together to plan for sustainable tourism for the area. The project is about linking environment, community and tourism together to preserve the Burren. It addresses the areas of nature conservation, traffic management, tourist information and community involvement."
To watch the program, please click here
8th December 2008:
Fáilte Ireland Tourism Learning Networks Xmas Event 08 took place in the Absolute Hotel in Limerick. We were delighted to learn that the Burren Connect Project and the Burren Passport won an award.
