Heritage week to get underway in Clare

A WEEK of local heritage, education on geology, and the history of Clare sites in on the cards for the coming week. 

The 21st annual celebration of County Clare’s built, natural and cultural heritage is being coordinated locally by Clare County Council and The Heritage Council, with support from Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media.

Heritage Week gets underway from Sunday, August 13 with the Burren series and will conclude at Caherconnell Stone Fort on August 20, with a talk about iron production in Ireland.

The Burren Centre in Kilfenora will be the first stop of the week, with a talk by geologist Dr. Eamon Doyle, who will be speaking on a range of topics, including that of abandoned fossil burrows in limestone at Doolin, which date back 330 million years.

Carol Gleeson, Manager of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, said: “One of the primary objectives of our Heritage Week events is to further increase engagement between the people of Clare and the heritage of the Burren. 

“By doing so, we hope to create a greater sense of awareness and appreciation of the geology and history of one of Ireland’s most unique landscapes.” 

Step into the past at Craggaunowen during Heritage Week

A talk on the geology of Lisdoonvarna and surrounding areas, the Geo Stack, and the history of the wells in Lisdoonvarna will be held at Lisdoonvarna Library on August 17. 

Animations produced by the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, in association with Magpie 6 Media and supported by the Geological Survey of Ireland, will also be promoted through the Geopark’s social media accounts during Heritage Week.  

Heritage Week in the Burren concludes with Irish Smelting Archaeologist, Dr. Paul Rondelez and Dr. Eamon Doyle providing insight into the 2023 Caherconnell International Furnace Festival.