Burren

On the windswept Atlantic coast of Ireland lies an intriguing landscape defined by sparse vegetation on bare limestone rock, smoothed by ice and sculpted by rain. This is the Burren, the heart of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. Its extraordinary glaciokarst terrain is home to an astonishing variety of plant and animal life, not to mention a rich geological and cultural heritage – all of which revolve around the limestone. This book traces how rainwater shapes limestone pavements, how underground streams carve out caves that feed holy wells and ephemeral lakes, and how bare rock provides microclimates for archaic ferns and colourful orchids. It goes on to illuminate how communities used the stone beneath their feet to build megalithic tombs, cashels, tower houses, churches, and the vast network of drystone walls that climb the hills and support traditional farming practices in response to the harsh environment. Here, culture did not overwrite geology: it adapted to it. Join us on a visual journey of discovery as we explore the Burren in all its facets, revealing the compelling beauty of this Land of Limestone.