A recreation of Bronze age cooking methods and a rocks and fossils roadshow are among the events lined up for ‘The Burren Rocks 2013’ in County Clare from June 15th to 23rd.
The annual festival, which is organised by Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark and forms part of European Geoparks Network Week 2013, will feature guided walks, lectures and tours focusing on the geology and landscape of the Burren.
“This series of events seeks to explore how the history, culture, flora and fauna of the Burren have been shaped by the region’s geology,” explained Dr. Eamon Doyle, Geologist, Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark.
He added: “The underlying geology of the Burren holds many fascinating clues to conditions on Earth more than 300 million years ago. More recently, the last ice Age which ended only around 12,000 years ago, has sculpted those rocks and largely given the Burren its current shape. Research is active and scientists and students come from all over the world to see what we have here. Our activities are designed to give people a taste of the geology and how it affects the landscape and also the culture of the Burren.”
The series commences on Saturday, June 15th with a guided geology tour of the Cliffs of Moher from the sea. The opening event will be followed on June 16th by a walk hosted by Tony Kirby of Heart of Burren Walks, focusing on the Burren’s holy wells, wildflowers, rag trees, penitential stations, pillar stones, stone shrines, enigmatic grave slabs and monastic sites. ‘
June 16th also features ‘The Antique Rockshow’ at the Burren National Park Information Centre in Corofin during which members of the public are invited to bring along their rocks and fossils to a team of experts for identification and insightful information. Experts in attendance will include Professor Mike Williams, a Sedimentologist who was the first person to study the impact of large storms on the west of Ireland’s coastline geology.
On Monday 17th June, Dr. Eamon Doyle will present a guided return walk from the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre to Hags Head, while he will also be presenting a lecture on the Geology of North Clare at the Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna. Local guide Marie McGauran will host a guided walk up Mullaghmore, one of Ireland’s iconic landmarks, on Tuesday 18th.
On June 19th, Burrenbeo and Farm Heritage Tours will lead a guided walk around Lough Avalla in the heart of the Burren National Park. The geology of the Flaggy Shore in New Quay will be explored by Dr. Eamon Doyle on June 20th, while ‘A sense of Ireland in song and story’ will be the theme of a cave tour and performance at Doolin Cave on the same day.
Friday 21st will see local guide Mary Howard share her wisdom of the bare rocks of Black Head and the suite of faunal, floral, archaeological and geological features that are often missed by the untrained eye. Dr. Eamon Doyle will lead a guided walk of the coast around Fanore on Saturday 22nd June, while The Burren rocks concludes the following day at Hotel Doolin when a number of archaeologists will recreate an ancient Fulachta Fia and slow cook food the really old way.
The Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark organisation is based in Ennistymon and is funded by Clare County Council and the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI). The Burren and Cliffs of Moher were incorporated into UNESCO Geopark Programme in 2011.
For further information on The Burren Rocks visit www.burren.ie or contact Dr. Eamon Doyle on edoyle@burren.ie / 087-9008031.
The annual festival, which is organised by Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark and forms part of European Geoparks Network Week 2013, will feature guided walks, lectures and tours focusing on the geology and landscape of the Burren.
“This series of events seeks to explore how the history, culture, flora and fauna of the Burren have been shaped by the region’s geology,” explained Dr. Eamon Doyle, Geologist, Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark.
He added: “The underlying geology of the Burren holds many fascinating clues to conditions on Earth more than 300 million years ago. More recently, the last ice Age which ended only around 12,000 years ago, has sculpted those rocks and largely given the Burren its current shape. Research is active and scientists and students come from all over the world to see what we have here. Our activities are designed to give people a taste of the geology and how it affects the landscape and also the culture of the Burren.”
The series commences on Saturday, June 15th with a guided geology tour of the Cliffs of Moher from the sea. The opening event will be followed on June 16th by a walk hosted by Tony Kirby of Heart of Burren Walks, focusing on the Burren’s holy wells, wildflowers, rag trees, penitential stations, pillar stones, stone shrines, enigmatic grave slabs and monastic sites. ‘
June 16th also features ‘The Antique Rockshow’ at the Burren National Park Information Centre in Corofin during which members of the public are invited to bring along their rocks and fossils to a team of experts for identification and insightful information. Experts in attendance will include Professor Mike Williams, a Sedimentologist who was the first person to study the impact of large storms on the west of Ireland’s coastline geology.
On Monday 17th June, Dr. Eamon Doyle will present a guided return walk from the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre to Hags Head, while he will also be presenting a lecture on the Geology of North Clare at the Roadside Tavern in Lisdoonvarna. Local guide Marie McGauran will host a guided walk up Mullaghmore, one of Ireland’s iconic landmarks, on Tuesday 18th.
On June 19th, Burrenbeo and Farm Heritage Tours will lead a guided walk around Lough Avalla in the heart of the Burren National Park. The geology of the Flaggy Shore in New Quay will be explored by Dr. Eamon Doyle on June 20th, while ‘A sense of Ireland in song and story’ will be the theme of a cave tour and performance at Doolin Cave on the same day.
Friday 21st will see local guide Mary Howard share her wisdom of the bare rocks of Black Head and the suite of faunal, floral, archaeological and geological features that are often missed by the untrained eye. Dr. Eamon Doyle will lead a guided walk of the coast around Fanore on Saturday 22nd June, while The Burren rocks concludes the following day at Hotel Doolin when a number of archaeologists will recreate an ancient Fulachta Fia and slow cook food the really old way.
The Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark organisation is based in Ennistymon and is funded by Clare County Council and the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI). The Burren and Cliffs of Moher were incorporated into UNESCO Geopark Programme in 2011.
For further information on The Burren Rocks visit www.burren.ie or contact Dr. Eamon Doyle on edoyle@burren.ie / 087-9008031.
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