The Burren

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Image:The Burren 01.jpg Burren (from Irish: Boireann, meaning - great rock) is a unique karst landscape in northwest County Clare, Ireland. The limestone area measures 300 square kilometres and is roughly enclosed within the circle comprised by the villages Ballyvaughan, Kinvarra, Gort, Corrofin, Kilfenora, Lisdoonvarna and the Black Head lighthouse. The definitive article (ie "The" Burren) has only been added to the name by academics in the last few decades as it has always been traditionally called Boireann or Boirinn in Irish and Burren in English.

The ancient territory of Burren was also called Corco Modhruadh Oirthearach ("eastern Corcomroe") which is the north-eastern portion of the territory / tuath of Corco Modhruadh / Corco Mruadh ("race/tribe of Modhruadh"). Corco Modhruadh is coextensive with the diocese of Kilfenora. The barony of Burren (now obselete) established in the late 1500's is coextensive with the territory of Burren. The south-western half of Corco Modhruadh was called Corco Modhruadh Iartharach ("western Corcomroe") and is coextensive with the barony of Corcomroe (now obselete). In the annals Burren was often called Burren in Corcomroe. Around the 1100's the Corco Modhruadh split into two main clans The O Loughlen / Ó Lochlainn clan became the rulers of Burren while the O Connor / Ó Conchubhair clan became the rulers of western Corcomroe. The Corco Modhruadh are the earliest recored inhabitants of the Aran Islands. A branch of the Eoghanachta rulers of Munster based on the Aran Islands ruled the territory of Corco Modhruadh in the early medieval period. Other clans of Corco Modhruadh include (O) Davoren / Ó Dubhdábhoireann, (Mac) Nestor / Mac Girr an Adhastair, (O) Troy, (O) Flaherty / Ó Flaithbheartaigh and (O) Melodey.

The rolling hills of Burren are composed of limestone pavements with crisscrossing cracks known as grikes, leaving isolated rocks called clints. The region supports both Mediterranean and Alpine plants side-by-side, due to the unusual environment. The blue flower of the Spring Gentian, an Alpine plant, is used as a symbol for the area by the tourist board.

Burren is rich with archeological sites. There are many megalithic tombs in the area, portal dolmens, a celtic high cross in the village of Kilfenora and a few ring forts, among them the triple ring fort Cahercommaun on the edge of an inland cliff and the exceptionally well preserved Caherconnell Stone Fort.

Burren's many limestone cliffs, particularly the sea-cliffs at Ailladie, near Fanore, are popular with rock-climbers.