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Tag Archives: Burren Ecotourism Network

Burren documentary to air to US audience of millions

A DOCUMENTARY about the Burren that captivated Irish audiences on its release has begun a run on US television with the potential to reach up to 200 million people. Burren: Heart of Stone cast new light on our understanding of the region, presenting evidence of human activity in Ireland 20,000 years earlier than previously known. Narrated by multi-award winning actor Brendan Gleeson, the show is a two-part documentary that captured an unprecedented audience of one million people when it premiered on RTE. The two-part series created by film maker Katrina Costello, of Silver Branch Films will be broadcast to 90% of US households to 200 million people on Public Broadcasting TV station over a 12-month period. “The audience reach in the States will be massive, a predicted 200,000,000 people will watch it in the next 12 months. I imagine people will long to come here,” said Katrina. The programme will get repeated airings in every part of the USA and …

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Positive signs for sustainable tourism in North Clare

SIGNS are positive for north Clare after the latest initiative aimed at developing sustainable tourism in the area. Failte Ireland recently unveiled the first viewing points along the Burren Discovery Trail, a new looped route off the Wild Atlantic Way. The trail is one of the projects that has emerged from the Visitor Experience Development Plan for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher, published earlier this year, that is designed to encourage visitors to explore more and stay longer in the Burren. Developed with an investment of €340,000 from Fáilte Ireland, the 95km Burren Discovery Trail takes visitors through the Burren Highlands in Clare and Lowlands in Galway encouraging them to engage with the stories of each local area and explore the many wonderful towns and villages in the region. Miriam Kennedy, Head of the Wild Atlantic Way at Fáilte Ireland, said, “The Burren is famous for its stunning karst natural landscape but it is also a living environment with …

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Minister’s praise for unique Clare food festival

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has praised the Burren Agritourism sector for a host of innovative food and farm initiatives which saw hundreds of visitors head to the Burren area recently.   Minister McConalogue said: “I was delighted to see the Burren Food Fayre returned for a series of unique food and farm visitor experiences with a return to in-person events.    “I congratulate the organisers, the Burren Ecotourism Network, who are marking their 10th year in operation.”   The Minister said that it was encouraging to see that agritourism initiatives were continuing to go from strength to strength, adding: “We are proud to be funding these projects under the Department of Agriculture, Rural Innovation and Development Fund.”   During the bank holiday weekend, the Burren region hosted food and farm tours, walks, talks, cattle drives and tree planting which took place in locations all over the Burren which showcased the strong collaboration between farmers and tourism business owners. …

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New website looks to put Burren EcoTourism members on the map

A NEW tourism destination website aimed at raising awareness of the Burren region in Ireland and overseas has been launched. Members of the Burren Ecotourism Network were joined in Lisdoonvarna this week by the web development team, Evolve Technologies, to launch the new look Burren.ie. The website aims to bring the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark to life with stories of the people, places and attractions of the area and to attract more visitors to stay in North Clare. The site will also carry a strong message of ecotourism and sustainability. That is a principle that all member businesses subscribe to, and it has previously helped the network to win the ‘Lonely Planet ‘Best in Travel 2021’ award for Community Tourism. Evolve Technologies, which is based in Ennistymon, has been working closely with members of the Burren Ecotourism Network team, including CEO Jarlath O’Dwyer, George Quinn of Hylands Burren Hotel and chairperson of the Network, marketing coordinator …

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Staff shortages could force North Clare hotel to close

A WELL known North Clare hotel is facing closure for a temporary period due to chronic staff shortages, it emerged this week. Staff shortages in the hospitality sector in the Burren could hamper Autumn bookings, following one of the busiest summers in the region in recent years in terms of Irish visitors. Hotels and self-catering accommodation providers have reported bookings are up on last year, due to a combination of recent fine weather and the desire to holiday at home due to coronavirus restrictions, abroad. Despite Ireland’s vaccine roll out success many people are still putting off taking international holidays until next year. But an exodus of staff from the sector is proving to be a major hurdle for many businesses in the Burren region. One of the businesses badly affected by staff shortages is Gregans Castle Hotel in Ballyvaughan. Simon Haden, owner of Gregans Castle said the hotel are extremely busy up to the end of October. However, he …

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Bumper harvest for Burren agritourism

FARMERS, food producers and artisans in the Burren are reaping the benefits of agritourism initiatives this summer as visitors flock to try unique food experiences in the region. As people holiday at home this year, experiences such as food trails, foraging walks, food visitor experiences and farm stays have all become popular, according to Jarlath O’Dwyer, CEO of the Burren Ecotourism Network, which represents over 70 diverse businesses in the region. “For farmers, agritourism offers an opportunity to diversify and create supplementary income,” he said. “Many enjoy the social aspect of meeting people and share their special stories about the food, agriculture and biodiversity of the region. “For visitors, it allows them to connect with the land, the people, the animals and learn more about where their food comes from while enjoying beautiful landscapes of the Burren. “There really is no better place for visitors to learn about the region than from those who have farmed the land for generations.” …

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The Burren Ecotourism Network launches ‘People of the Burren’ series

A RARE insight into the people who live and work in the Burren will be revealed in a series of 60 short films being launched by the Burren Ecotourism Network this week. The series entitled ‘The People of the Burren’ will give potential visitors a chance to experience the diverse history, geology, archaeology, food and music of the area through the unique perspective of the people who live there. As well as interviews with each member, the films also showcase the stunning landscapes of the Burren. Over the next few months the films will be released on a regular basis and will be available to view on the network’s social media channels and on the burren.ie website. They are part of an ongoing marketing campaign to encourage visitors to the area, once restrictions are lifted. Jarlath O’Dwyer, CEO of the Burren Ecotourism Network said, “This campaign will be directed towards the domestic and Northern Irish Markets, both of whom we …

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Promotional blitz planned for Burren Ecotourism Network

A MAJOR promotional push of the Burren Ecotourism Network is being planned in the wake of the local initiative becoming the only Irish tourism project to be included in the Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel picks for 2021. Naming the Burren Ecotourism Network one of ten world-wide winners in its new ‘Best in Community’ category this week Lonely Planet described it as “an impressive community collaboration of over 60 local enterprises which has transformed Ireland’s Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark into a global leader for sustainable tourism. Joining together to promote slow tourism, local engagement and a greater responsibility for a more sustainable future for all in the area. All enterprises subscribe to the Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark ‘Code of Sustainable Practice’. This is an online platform that measures waste output, water consumption and energy usage and encourages each business to make reductions in these areas. The Code of Practice is the only one of its kind in …

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