Hundreds are expected to descend on the Burren later this month for the annual Burren Winterage Weekend, which runs from October 25 to 27.
One of the highlights of the weekend will be the ever popular cattle drive and Burren Food Fayre which takes place on Sunday, October 27.
This annual cattle drive and food fayre is organised by four of the key groups operating in the region with BurrenBeo, the Burren Ecotourism Network, The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark and the Burren National Park will all take part.
The traditional Burren Beo Winterage cattle drive will start at the newly acquired McGann’s Farm, now in the ownership of the Burren National Park, while the Burren Food Fayre will have food and drink producers from the Burren Ecotourism Network showcasing their products and celebrate the best local food. This will take place in a marquee at the farm, right at the head of the walk, and will be supported by the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.
“This annual event which attracts visitors from every corner of Ireland, as well as international tourists, is an wonderful chance for people to not only hear about the ancient farming practices of the Burren, but also for them to experience walking the cattle upland to the winterage, and then to be able to taste and purchase the foods of the land and sea at the Burren Food Fayre,” said Jarlath O’Dwyer, CEO of the Burren Ecotourism Network.
“We are very happy to collaborate with the Burren Beo team, who have run the cattle drive so well for several years, and this year it is being held at the farm owned by The Burren National Park. We are also fortunate to have the support of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, who help us with facilities and the promotion of the event.”
The locally sourced food and drink on display on the day will include beef, salmon, pork, oysters, cheese, breads, jams and chutneys along with Burren whiskey and gin. Many of the producers taking part adhere to the GEOfood concept, an international Global Geopark initiative, which promotes local food produced in and around UNESCO Global Geoparks.
The cattle drive walk will start at 12pm, and attendees are encouraged to arrive at 10am to park and to avail of the complimentary tea, coffee and scones in the marquee.
“We are delighted that the food fayre is once again being staged on the rich agricultural lands of the Burren, there is no better way to connect people to the produce than to see where it came from,” said Carol Gleeson, manager of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.
“Amongst our GEOfood group, we have a few farming families who have worked this land for generations.”
Unusually, in The Burren, unlike most other parts of the world where animals are moved to the mountains in summer, the grazing cattle are moved to the uplands in winter, a practice that is key to maintaining the unique flora and fauna.
This type of low intensity farming has made the Burren unique, where cattle are able to absorb the heat from the limestone throughout the winter, staying dry and still having enough vegetation to eat.
The Burren Food Fayre is sponsored by Flogas Ireland. For more information or to participate in the walk visit burrenwinterage.com.
Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, investigative reporter and blogger who has been working in the media in Ireland for the past 20 years. His areas of special interest include the environment, mental health and politics.