Sunset over the Burren, County Clare

The Burren UNESCO Global Geopark offers a diversity that is second to none. There is the natural beauty of the 330 million years old limestone pavements and the rugged Cliffs of Moher. There is splendor in the vast array of flora, including Arctic and Alpine flowers that grow surprisingly alongside Mediterranean species. There is also a staggering amount of history in the Burren with over 2,700 recorded monuments, some dating back over 6,000 years. Combined with its thriving musical, farming, and food traditions, and the partnership approach to its management, this place richly deserves its UNESCO Global Geopark Status.

There is a wonderful tradition down in Clare and Galway called the Burren Winterage system whereby farmers bring their cattle to the hills in wintertime. The Burren is one big tablet of limestone so effectively it’s like an underfloor heating system for cattle.

The cattle on the landscape have calcium-rich water to drink, along with a broad range of herbs and vegetation to eat throughout the winter.