BEAUTIFUL BURREN

Where and what is the Burren?
It is a mystical landscape of approximately 100 square miles in the
north of County Clare in Ireland.

Formed by a retreating ice age, the vast limestone pavements enchant
all who visit.

Some may envisage the Burren as a barren place of stone and wind, but
those who look more closely are amazed at the wide variety of plant
treasures which abound in the area.

Lichens, sedums and ferns inhabit both the faces of the rocks and the
fissures between, where the more tender find shelter from cold
winds.

Soon the visitor will spot rare and beautiful plants - such as the
star-like blue flowers of the gentian, yellow clumps of rock rose,
fascinating wild orchids, pink and red drifts of thyme, sea pinks,
bloody cranesbill, the rare pyramidal bugle and many others.

Here plants whose usual habitat is in Southern Europe live amongst
others of Arctic-Alpine origin.

In this 'moonscape' like setting, there are little hidden valleys and
mysterious pools - turloughs - which during wet weather fill up with
water bubbling through subterranean channels in the limestone, and can
empty in the same way, sometimes in a matter of hours.

This 'Beautiful Burren' has no equal in Europe, and this inspiring
corner of Ireland should be put high on the list of 'places to visit'
for anyone interested in archaeology or botany.

Indeed, anyone interested in seeing one of nature's wonders, should
visit this fascinating limestone wilderness.