The Burren Winterage Weekend, an annual celebration of the Burren’s unique ‘transhumance’ farming tradition is set to return this October, with a range of ‘Agri-Cultural’ events across this special landscape.
At the heart of this celebration is the centuries-old practice whereby local farmers move their cattle to hilltop pastures – or ‘winterages’ – where they forage and roam until spring. Given the importance of this low-input practice in protecting the Burren’s famous flora, ‘winterage’ has come to embody the broader importance of Irish farmers and farming to society at a time of biodiversity crisis.
Coordinated by local landscape charity The Burrenbeo Trust, the flagship event of the weekend is the community cattle drive where hundreds of people join a local farming family in herding their cattle to the winterage pastures. This year’s drive promises to be particularly special in that, for the first time ever, the host ‘farmer’ will be the National Parks and Wildlife Service who recently purchased a farm in the heart of the Burren, along with a herd of Irish Maol cattle – a beautiful, rare, native breed.
The farm, once owned by traditional shorthorn farmer Gerald McGann, features spectacular views of Carron turlough (a seasonal lake) and contains a huge range of habitats and archaeological sites. It will also be the location for the Burren Food Fayre, organised by the Burren Eco-tourism Network, which will offer a true ‘taste of the Burren’, supplied by local food producers. A plaque to the late Mr McGann will be unveiled at the event and the old farm buildings, which once housed machinery, hay bales and livestock, will host a photography exhibition, short films and a range of walks and talks.
According to NPWS divisional manager William Cormacan: “The National Parks and Wildlife Service is delighted to be supporting the Burren Winterage Festival, which a celebration of traditional farming in the Burren, and the great work of Burren farmers in maintaining the unique biodiversity that exist on the winterages.
We are delighted with our recent acquisition, which is now included within the Burren National Park, and where we maintain a herd of Irish Moiled cattle and have more recently introduced Droimeann cattle on the farm. We hope that McGann’s farm will be a beacon for the conservation of our natural heritage, as well as the conservation of our heritage livestock breeds, and will be an asset to the Burren and its people”.
Another weekend highlight will be the annual Farming for Nature Ambassador awards, hosted by journalist and broadcaster Ella McSweeney, where 12 Irish farmers will be recognised for their exceptional contribution to sustaining our natural heritage, and inspiring others to do likewise. As part of ‘Turas – journeys in sustainability’, a Creative Ireland funded project, two events will feature performances from poet Jane Clarke, dancer Edwina Guckian and musician Jack Talty, as well as a field visit and panel discussion hosted by broadcaster Anja Murray focusing on people who have taken actions for nature on their land.
Heritage breeds display, traditional singing, storytelling, will also feature alongside traditional butter and cheese making workshops. According to Pranjali Bhave of the Burrenbeo Trust, “The Winterage Weekend takes place in this most spectacular of locations at an important turning point in the farming year, around Samhain. It’s an opportunity for us all to reconnect with our shared farming heritage and is a truly memorable occasion’.
Local farmer and community leader Michael Davoren claims, “The Burren is special, but so are its people, those who have carved out a living on this landscape for generations and made it what it is today. To look after the Burren we need to look after its people, so I really hope to see the wider public come to visit winterage to learn from, and support, our farmers”
The Burren Winterage Weekend is supported by The National Parks and Wildlife Service, The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Creative Ireland and the FBD Trust.
While some events are free and open to all, others require advance booking. More information available on www.burrenwinterage.com