A summer of exploration in the Burren

CLARE Farm Heritage Tours has unveiled its summer programme, which includes tours for all ages alongside daily farm tours to eight unique farms in the Burren region.
The programme begins on June 25 with a historical talk and walk at Cassidy’s Pub and Restaurant, Carron, in the heart of the Burren, followed by farm walks near Lahinch in July, a gardening in the Burren experience in August and finishing in September with stories of Maura Rua who lived at Lemenagh Castle.
The farm tours are both educational and fun, allowing visitors to hear about the landscape of the Burren direct from the people who live and work in the area. The tours are led by individual landowners, who share their wealth of knowledge about local history and archaeology, landscape heritage, geology, and farming practices (both old and new), as well as innumerable anecdotes and tales about the Burren and its people.
“With eight farms in our co-op, we have plenty variety to offer to our visitors and this summer, we really want to showcase this both to tourists and the people of the west,” said Michael Davoren, chairman of Clare Farm Heritage Tours. “The farmers of the co-op invite visitors to join them this summer at special events or simply any day for a tour of their farms.”
‘Dining at the Dungeon’ is the first event at Cassidy’s pub and restaurant in Carron. Without spoiling too much, it can be said that the history of the building will be explored, both when it was built for the RIC and later as a garda station. The owner and member of Clare Farm Heritage Tours, Robert Cassidy will give an account of the days gone by in the upper Burren, where he will recount colourful stories of local life under the constabulary, told to him by a now, fast disappearing generation.
The building, which overlooks the largest turlough (disappearing lake) in Europe and more than 4,000 acres of the unique Burren landscape, has an amazing and exciting history, which includes 125 years of Ireland’s most troubled times.
The historical talk will be starting on June 25 at 2pm in Cassidy’s pub. For those who can and want to, there will also be a short walk offered on the day and refreshments will be available at the pub. Individuals may simply attend tours and events on the day but it is advised for groups to make contact on 065 7089944 (Michael Cusack Centre) and email info@farmheritagetours.com or directly with Cassidy’s pub.
Running alongside the series of events, the farmers are, of course, available for their usual farm tours on a daily basis. The co-op of eight North Clare farmers continues a tradition of farming in the Burren, which dates back over 6,000 years. More than 100 archaeological sites and monuments have been identified throughout land currently farmed and managed by members of the co-op.  With the establishment of the Clare Farm Heritage Tours Co-op, the landowners can now offer guided access to these sites and monuments, which are representative of the treasurers of north Clare.
“Growing up in the Burren, the knowledge of its ancient history and the heritage farming practices used here were part of our everyday education since early childhood. We enjoy sharing that knowledge and are open and excited to learn bits of new information that other Burren experts can offer. Every farm tour is as much an experience to us as we aspire to make it a day to remember for our visitors,” said Frank O’Grady, secretary of Clare Farm Heritage Tours.
The eight members of the co-op are Pat McCormack (Kilnaboy), Harry Jeuken (Kilnaboy), Michael Vaughan (Lahinch), Michael Killeen (Corofin), Patrick Nagle (Corofin), Frank O’Grady (Kilnaboy), Robert Cassidy (Carron) and Michael Davoren (Kilcorney). Clare Farm Heritage Tours is a member of the Burren Ecotourism Network and focuses on local people promoting heritage, archaeology, geology and farming practice, while also educating visitors about the fragility of the Burren and the importance of its conservation for future generations.
“Clare Farm Heritage Tours is a great off-the-beaten-track opportunity for people to get an insight into the Burren’s rich heritage and culture both past and present with those that know it best, the landowners,” said Brigid Barry, Burrenbeo Trust co-ordinator. She further explained, “The Burren is a patchwork quilt of past remnants”. The tours run daily from the Michael Cusack Centre in Carron. Tours take about two hours and sturdy shoes are advisable. To find out more go to www.farmheritagetours.com or contact 065 7089944 or email info@farmheritagetours.com.