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The Burren (or Boireann, rocky land) between Corofin and Kinvara and stretching to the sea in the north of County Clare has one of the most geographically striking appearances of any landscape in Ireland. It's limestone grikes and clints create an extraordinary natural paved-like area, which stretches for miles like an alien landscape. The limestone was laid down when the Burren was below sea level 350 million years ago. Two hundred and fifty million years ago the movement of the plates, on the earth's crust, cracked and warped the limestone plateau into the fascinating jigsaw that remains. When early farmers cleared the vegetation from the land to graze livestock 6,000 years ago, most of the soil and shiny shale was eroded away so the only earth that remains is in the troughs between the Burren's natural paves. It is these grikes which provide a unique habitat for wild flowers, animals and butterflies, many, like the Burren Rose and Burren Green butterfly which are almost unique to this area. Pine martens, badgers, foxes, stoats, hares and many species of birds also live in the Burren. Seals, otters and seabirds including puffins, gannets, razorbills and guillemots also live along the Burren coast. Many of the clints have been smoothed and polished into rounded shapes by glaciers, the wind and rain. While the Burren is not now suitable countryside for farming the area was richly populated by people in ancient times who have left behind hundreds of wedge tombs, dolmens, ring forts and Iron Age stone forts. One of the most striking Neolithic monuments in the Burren is the elegant Poulnabrone dolmen, which looks like a giant's picnic table. The Cahercommaun stone fort built at the edge of cliff near Carron and the Ballykinvarga stone fort near Kilfenora are two of the most impressive forts. Castles were also built throughout the Burren including Ballinalacken Castle near Doolin, Leamanegh Castle near Kilfenora (where are also some well preserved high crosses) and the Gleninagh towerhouse which was the castle of O'Lochlains, on the Black Head. Interesting monastic ruins include the 13th century Corcomroe Cistercian abbey which was founded by the O'Briens in the 13th century. Trails through the Burren called green roads make good walking or cycling tracks. There are also caves in the Burren, but many are undeveloped and should only be tackled by experienced cavers. The Aillwee Caves near Ballyvaughan are open to the public. A good place to start a tour of the Burren wilderness is at Mullghmore town. The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher are both easily accessible from Doolin or Lisdonvarna towns. The Burren Centre in Kilfenora has displays about the geology, flora and fauna of the Burren (Tel: 065 88030).
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Poulnabrone Dolmen
