Burren fetes timeless tradition

Farmers in the Burren have for thousands of years marked the end of summer by herding their cattle onto ‘winterage’ pastures in the limestone uplands. The tradition is synonymous with the Burren and is key to the survival of the region’s famous flora and fauna.

Brendan Dunford of the Burrenbeo Trust said the practice of winterage is not only unique and intriguing, it is a big part of the reason why there are so many monuments, flowers, and stories in the Burren today.

“Witnessing the cattle browsing on the herb-rich winterage pastures, drinking from the calcium-rich springs or enjoying the ‘dry-lie’ of the limestone captures the very essence of this ‘fertile rock’,” said Dr Dunford.