Burren educational packs launched

DR Pat O’Connor, director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, launched a selection of free educational packs on the Burren in Lisdoonvarna last week.
The geo-education resources for schools in the area consist of books, maps and educational packs on the Burren’s landscape and geology and were published by Burren Connect as part of the Northern Environmental Education Development (NEED) Project. The publications are being distributed free to schools in the Burren, as well as the Burren’s ecotourism businesses, environmental education groups and conservation organisations.
“The NEED project has delivered a series of excellent geo-education resources, Stone, Water and Ice, based on the geological processes that have shaped the iconic limestone karst landscapes of the Burren and spectacular seascapes of the Cliffs of Moher. This part of Ireland’s Atlantic Edge provides an inspiring outdoor learning environment for visitor and student alike and the attractive and well-illustrated NEED publications contribute greatly to this experience,” Dr O’Connor stated.
Dr Ronán Hennessy, Burren Geopark geologist, said, “This new series of educational material and books will allow people of all ages to gain an insight into the fascinating story of the Burren landscape. As well as being available to schools and communities in the Burren, the availability of this material online, and for free, will hopefully encourage schools and visitors from all over Ireland to come and experience this unique landscape for themselves,” he said.
Frances Connole, manager of the Burren Centre in Kilfenora, commented, “I think for anyone interested in Burren geology, Stone Water and Ice, the colour-illustrated guide to the Burren is a must. The pictures are beautiful and the text is well written and easy to understand even for those with no background in geology. It is a wonderful source for planning weekend trips and anyone interested in planning field trips. This book takes the reader on a journey in geological time, from 300 million years ago to the present day and it is an excellent source of fundamental geological knowledge about the Burren.”
NEED supports the development of geological learning resources, the promotion of an awareness of the landscape and the establishment of sustainable contacts between education providers, visitor centres and the wider tourism community. The Burren represents Ireland as one of the four European regions within NEED.