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This is the webpage of the Burren Wildlife Symposium.

Glaciated limestone takes many forms - from these erratic boulders near Black Head to the fortress-like peaks of the hills around Mullaghmore (right), from deep crevasses to glass-like smoothness.

These are glacial erratics; large boulders left behind by melting glaciers, here on flat glaciated rock pavement near Fanore. Much can be learnt from studying these deceptively simple features - our symposia always include walking trips with expert guides who will interpret the landscape and the features found on it.

Man has left his marks on the Burren - the hundreds of miles of dry stone walls, easily overlooked or taken for granted, are proven to have been in existence for thousands of years in some cases, yet it is the sculpture   of the glaciers, a mere 10,000 years ago, that uniquely defines this landscape.

Walls are the simplest man-made monuments: castles from the past centuries are found throughout the Burren, and their strategic fore-runners, the cahers, caiseals or stone ring forts are so common here as to be taken for granted.

Older monuments from pre-historic times like this dolmen at Parkbinna, speak of a lost culture; a stone-age society capable of honouring their dead with tombs that have endured for over 5,000 years. There are hundreds of these enigmatic structures in the Burren, some dramatically sited on prominent hilltops, others in secluded valleys. Archaeological discoveries are still being made, revealing the artefacts of those distant times.

Updates:

April 2005

Programme for may 2005 event

Pat MacNamara's Photographs of Ivy Broomrape and White Gentians

List of moth species identified in the Caher valley in August 2001

Wildlife has been a central theme of our symposia, and we always ensure that our guests see as much wildlife as possible over the weekends. What is rare elsewhere is frequently easily seen in the Burren; among the mammals we have pine martens, stoats, foxes, badgers, otters, seals, dolphins, and porpoises.

The Burren is celebrated as a birdwatchers mecca, attracting migrants and vagrants- the rarest birds have been seen here, including glaucus gulls, one record of an American Belted Kingfisher, occasional Ospreys and similar birds.

The high cliffs and old buildings provide nest sites for kestrels and peregrine falcons, and one of our activities has been to safeguard these sites as far as possible.

Next Event:

The 34nd Burren Wildlife Symposium

O'Donoghue's Hall, Fanore

There is a wide range of approved accommodation available to suit all budgets, including camping facilities, self-catering cottages, bed-and-breakfast guesthouses and several modern hotels. Contact the Burren Wildlife Symposium Secretary, Fanore, via Galway, Co. Clare, Ireland or alternatively e-mail us using this link, and we will be happy to advise you on your needs. - pre-booking is advisable, and a small deposit will usually be required

From overseas: flight to Shannon (45 mins away)or Dublin (2 hrs) or Galway (1 hr) Airports; car hire readily available. Car ferries operate from the UK.

Ireland & Great Britain: get a route from www.rac.co.uk giving directions and approximate journey times. Set Lisdoonvarna as your destination if using Southern Ports: set Ballyvaughan if travelling through Dun Laoghaire, Dublin or northern ports.

We keep in touch using a discussion list.

It is hosted on www.topica.com which we use to keep in touch with Symposium friends, and to make any interesting announcements relating to the Burren, or the Symposium. Postings are infrequent, so you will not be 'spammed'.

To Join, go here

Many of these links will open new windows, so that you can still read the remainder of this site. If you get lost, use your Browser's 'BACK' button to get back here.

John Considine - 32 years of Burren study, particularly interested in badgers and foxes, and wildlife photography. Email John C. here:

Adrian Glasgow - leading wildlife and landscape photographer; email Adrian here:

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Catriona Carroll, Kilshanny and Fanore - niece of John D.