About the Burren

The Burren takes its name from the Irish word 'boireann' meaning, 'a stony place' or 'a rocky place', which is a good description for this 350 sq kilometres limestone plateau in North Clare. The rough, intriguing and attractive landscape was formed 320 million years ago under a tropical sea. Later it was shaped by ice, hard weather and, of course, man and his beasts.

The many wedge tombs and megalithic tombs are proof that people have been living in the Burren for more than 5000 years.

Lisdoonvarna, in North Clare, is Ireland’s premier Spa town and is famous for its music and festival – while it is also perfectly placed for visits to the Burren National Park. Festivals are a feature of ‘Lisdoon’, the two premier ones being the September Festival – one of Europe’s largest singles match-making festivals of romance, music and 'craic'; and the Burren Slow Food Festival.

Lisdoonvarna has many pubs – while the village is also famous for its Victorian Spa Complex and Health Centre, which is set in an attractive parkland setting. The Spa’s therapeutic mineral waters of sulphur, iron and magnesium have been dispensed since the 18th century, and the strong smelling sulphur water is served hot and cold in the pump. The source of the water can be viewed in the illuminated well.

The Burren may seem lifeless and barren, but that's not the case at all. Here, especially in early spring, you will find a unique mixture of alpine, arctic and Mediterranean plants, growing side by side. There are lots of small rivers and streams, even lakes, feeding the multitude of rare plants and the strong grass for the cattle and sheep to eat all year round. The wildlife is rich; mostly smaller animals, but if you are lucky you may spot one of the big herds of feral goats, or even a pine marten.

The character and the colour of the Burren change with the light, weather and the season - the rocks look steel grey sometimes, other times have a purple hue. Artists always found their way to north Clare and the Burren, many ended up staying.

Everybody who loves the outdoors, botanists, archaeologists, speleologists, will find it easy to spend whole days exploring the area and still wanting to come back for the very special experience that the Burren is.