Burren landscape

Burren landscape in the evening sun

The karst hills of The Burren

Burren landscape with Galway Bay in the Background

The Burren (Irish: Boireann, meaning "great rock", Boirinn, the dative form, is the modern form used by the Ordnance Survey) is a karst-landscape region or alvar in northwest County Clare, in Ireland. It is one of the largest karst landscapes in Europe. The region measures approximately 250 square kilometres and is enclosed roughly within the circle made by the villages Ballyvaughan, Kinvara, Tubber, Corofin, Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna. It is bounded by the Atlantic and Galway Bay on the west and north, respectively.

A small portion of the Burren has been designated as Burren National Park. It is one of only six National Parks in the Republic of Ireland and the smallest in size (15 km²).

History[link]

The Burren area formed part of the territory of Corco Modhruadh, meaning "seed or people of Modhruadh" which was coextensive with the diocese of Kilfenora. At some point around the 12th Century, the territory was divided in two: Corco Modhruadh Iartharach ("Western Corcomroe") and Corco Modhruadh Oirthearach ("Eastern Corcomroe") also known as Boireann which in the late 16th century became the English administrative baronies of Corcomroe and Burren respectively. The O'Loughlin (Ó Lochlainn) clan ruled Boireann down to the mid 17th century from their chief residence at Gragans Castle (towerhouse not the house of the same name). The chief of the family was known in later times as the 'Prince of Burren' and clan members were buried in the family tomb near the altar of Corcomroe Abbey. Their kinsmen the O'Connor (Ó Conchubhair) clan ruled Corco Modhruadh Oirthearach from Dough Castle near Liscannor. The villages and towns found within the medieval territory of Boireann include Lisdoonvarna, Ballyvaughan, New Quay / Burrin, Noughaval, Bealaclugga, Carron and Fanore / Craggagh.

Burren is rich with historical and archaeological sites. There are more than 90 megalithic tombs in the area, portal dolmens (including Poulnabrone dolmen), a celtic high cross in the village of Kilfenora, and a number of ring forts - among them the triple ring fort Cahercommaun on the edge of an inland cliff, and the exceptionally well-preserved Caherconnell Stone Fort. Corcomroe Abbey is one of the area's main scenic attractions.

Grikes and clints run along the limestone pavement

Geology[link]

The rolling hills of Burren are composed of limestone pavements with criss-crossing cracks known as "grikes", leaving isolated rocks called "clints". The region supports arctic, Mediterranean and alpine plants side-by-side, due to the unusual environment. The limestones, which date from the Visean stage of the Lower Carboniferous, formed as sediments in a tropical sea approximately 350 million years ago. The strata contain fossil corals, crinoids, sea urchins and ammonites.

Glaciation during the Quaternary period facilitated greater denudation. The result is that the Burren is one of the finest examples of a glacio-karst landscape in the world. The effects of the last glacial period (the Midlandian) are most in evidence, with the Burren overrun by ice during this glaciation. The impact of earlier karstification (solutional erosion) has been eliminated by the last glacial period. So any surface karstification now seen dates from approximately 10,000 years ago and the Burren karst is thus recent. Solutional processes have widened and deepened the grikes of the limestone pavement. Pre-existing lines of weakness in the rock (vertical joints) contribute to the formation of extensive fissures separated by clints (flat pavement like slabs). The rock karstification facilitates the formation of subterranean drainage.

Climate and agriculture[link]

The Burren has an unusually temperate climate. Average air temperatures range from 15°C in July to 6°C in January. The soil temperature does not usually drop below 6°C (end 2010 recorded a very unusual prolonged period of snow). Since grass will grow once the temperature rises above 6°C, this means that the Burren (like the neighbouring Aran Islands) has one of the longest growing seasons in Ireland or Britain, and supports diverse and rich plant growth. Late May is the sunniest time,^[1] and also likely the best time to view flowers, with the gentians and avens peaking (but orchid species blooming later^{[citation needed]}.

During counter-guerilla operations in Burren in 1651-52, Edmund Ludlow stated, "(Burren) is a country where there is not enough water to drown a man, wood enough to hang one, nor earth enough to bury him...... and yet their cattle are very fat; for the grass growing in turfs of earth, of two or three foot square, that lie between the rocks, which are of limestone, is very sweet and nourishing." ^{[1] [2]}

Flora and fauna[link]

The Burren is renowned for its remarkable assemblage of plants and animals.^[2] The region supports many rare Irish species, some of which are only found in this area.^{[citation needed]} Others occur in similar karst areas in western Ireland. Notable insects present in the Burren include the butterfly the Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria euphrosyne, Brown Hairstreak Thecla betulae, Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia and Wood White Leptidea sinapis; the moths, the Burren Green Calamia tridens, Irish Annulet Odontognophos dumetata and Transparent Burnet Zygaena purpuralis; the hoverfly Doros profuges and the water-beetle Ochthebius nilssoni. This last species is known from just 5 sites in the world, its type locality in northern Sweden and four marl lakes in the Burren.

The grykes (crevices) provide moist shelter, thus supporting a wide range of plants including dwarf shrubs. Where the surface of the pavement is shattered into gravel, many of the hardier Arctic or Alpine plants can be found. But when the limestone pavement is covered by a thin layer of soil, patches of grass are seen, interspersed with plants like the gentian and orchids.

The blue flower of the Spring Gentian, an alpine plant, is used as a symbol for the area by the tourist board.

Culture[link]

Burren has a long history of traditional Irish music. It is particularly known for the "West Clare Style" of concertina playing and the music festival in Doolin.

Sport[link]

Burren's many limestone cliffs, particularly the sea-cliffs at Ailladie, are popular with rock-climbers.^[3] For cavers, there are a number of charted caves in the area, notably Pollnagollum. Doolin is a popular "base camp" for cavers, and is home to one of the two main cave-rescue stores of the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation.

Gallery[link]

• 

  Native Flowers and Rock Formations

• 

  Poulnabrone portal tomb

• 

  The Burren landscape

• 

  Poulnabrone Portal Tomb

• 

  Burren Fence

• 

  Karst Meadow

• 

  Stone Monument

• 

  Karst Dome near Kilkeedy Parish - eastern Burren

See also[link]

• Aillwee Cave
• Burren Action Group
• Cliffs of Moher
• Turlough (lake)

References[link]

1. ^ http://www.met.ie
2. ^ D.A. Webb, 'Noteworthy Plants of the Burren', 1961, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section B: Biological, Geological, and Chemical Science
3. ^ http://wiki.climbing.ie/

See also[link]

• McCarthy, P.M. and Mitchell, M.E. 1988. Lichens of the Burren Hills and the Aran Islands. Galway. Officina Typographica.
• Bilton, D.T., 1988. A survey of aquatic Coleoptera in Central Ireland and the Burren. Bulletin of the Irish biogeographical Society 11: 77-94.
• Foster, G.N., Nelson, B.H. & O Connor, A. 2009. Ireland Red List No. 1 - Water beetles. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin.
• O'Callagan, E., Foster, G.N., Bilton, D.T. & Reynolds, J.D. 2009 Ochthebius nilssoni Hebauer new for Ireland (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae), including a key to Irish Ochthebius and Enicocerus. Irish Naturalists' Journal 30: 19-23
• Sheehy Skeffington, M., Moran, J., O Connor, Á., Regan, E., Coxon, C. E., Scott, N. E. & Gormally, M. 2006. Turloughs – Ireland’s unique wetland habitat. Biological Conservation 133: 265-290.

1. ^ BBC: The Flowers of the Burren, County Clare, Ireland
2. ^ A similar quote "The Burren affordeth not a piece of timber sufficient to hang a man, water in any one place to drown a man, or earth enough in any one part to bury him." can be found in "The Journal of Thomas Dineley", 1681, in the National Library of Ireland. Extracts from his journal, including his account of the Clare section of his journey, were published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, 6 (1867). These appear in an online in "The History and Topography of the County of Clare" by James Frost Part II. History of Thomond Chapter 28 Barony of Burren

• Anon. The Burren: A Guide. Shannonside Mid Western Regional Tourism Organization Ltd., 62, O'Connell St., Limerick.
• E. C. Nelson. Checklist of Plants of The Burren Region.
• D.A. Webb & M.J.P. Scannell. Flora of Connemara and The Burren.
• T. J. Westropp. Archaeology of The Burren.
• D’Arcy & Hayward. The Natural History of The Burren.
• E.C. Nelson & W. Walsh. The Burren Wildflowers, Conservancy of The Burren, An Bothan, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare.
• Hennessy, R., McNamara, M., & Hoctor, Z., 2010 Stone, Water & Ice: A Geology Trip Through the Burren. Burren Connect Project, pp. 64

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: The Burren

• Website
• Information on the history and archaeology of the Burren
• Guided Walks of The Burren
• Burren Photographs
• Burren Info

Coordinates: 53°02′N 9°06′W / 53.033°N 9.1°W / 53.033; -9.1

v t e Places in County Clare County town: Ennis Towns Ennis Kilkee Kilrush Shannon Villages Ardnacrusha Aughinish Ballynacally Ballyvaughan Barefield Bodyke Bridgetown Broadford Cahiracon Carrigaholt Clarecastle Clonlara Cloonanaha Connolly Cooraclare Coore Corofin Cratloe Cree Cross Crusheen Doolin Doonaha Doonbeg Ennistymon Fanore Feakle Hurlers Cross Inagh Ivarstown Kilbaha Kildysart Kilfenora Kilkishen Killaloe Killimer Kilmihil Kilnamona Knock Labasheeda Lahinch Liscannor Lisdoonvarna Lisseycasey Meelick Milltown Malbay Mountshannon Mullagh Murroogh Newmarket-on-Fergus O'Brien's Bridge O'Callaghans Mills Parteen Quilty Quin Ruan Scarriff Sixmilebridge Spancill Hill Spanish Point Tuamgraney Tulla Whitegate Townlands Ardsallis Ballaghline Burren Coolmeen Deer Island Drumcliff Inis Cathaig (or Scattery Island) Ogonnelloe Tullig Baronies Bunratty Lower Bunratty Upper Burren Clonderalaw Corcomroe Ibrickan Inchiquin Islands Moyarta Tulla Lower Tulla Upper List of townlands in County Clare Category:Mountains and hills of County Clare Category:Rivers of County Clare Category:Geography of County Clare

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (July 2009)

Ardal O'Hanlon (born 8 October 1965) is an Irish comedian and actor, best known for his roles in television sitcoms as Father Dougal McGuire in Father Ted and George Sunday in My Hero.

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

O'Hanlon was born in 1965 in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, Ireland, the son of Rory O'Hanlon, an Irish politician and doctor, and has five siblings. RTÉ's Who do you think you are? programme on Monday 6 October 2008 examined Ardal's family tree. He discovered that his paternal grandfather, Michael O'Hanlon, a UCD medicine student, had joined the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence and was a member of Michael Collins's squad which assassinated British secret service agents on the morning of Bloody Sunday. Details of his grandfather's activities survive in UCD Archives, as well as Blackrock College. It also transpired that on his mother's side he was a close relative of Peter Fenelon Collier, the founder of Collier's Weekly and Collier's Encyclopedia.

O'Hanlon was schooled in Blackrock College in Dublin and graduated, in 1987, from the National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin (now Dublin City University) with a degree in Communications Studies.

Career[link]

Together with Kevin Gildea and Barry Murphy, Ardal O'Hanlon founded the International Comedy Cellar, upstairs in the International Bar on Dublin's South Wicklow Street. Dublin had no comedy scene at the time. As a stand up, O'Hanlon won the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition in 1994. For a time he was the presenter of The Stand Up Show.

He was spotted by Graham Linehan, who was to cast him as Father Dougal McGuire in Father Ted (1995–98). In 1995, he appeared (as Father Dougal) in a Channel 4 ident ("Hello, you're watching.... television"), and during Comic Relief on BBC1. This was followed by the award winning short comedy film Flying Saucer Rock'n'Roll.

O'Hanlon moved into straight acting alongside Emma Fielding and Beth Goddard in the ITV comedy-drama Big Bad World, which aired for two series in summer 1999 and winter 2001. He also played a minor role in The Butcher Boy as Joe's (Francie's best friend) father, and appeared in an episode of the original Whose Line is it Anyway?.

In 2000, O'Hanlon starred in the comedy series My Hero, in which he played a very naive superhero from the planet Ultron. His character juggled world-saving heroics with life in suburbia. He stayed in the role until early 2005 and was replaced by James Dreyfus for series 6 in 2006.

He also provided the voice of the lead character in two Christmas television cartoon specials of Robbie the Reindeer. He appeared in the 2005 BBC One sitcom Blessed, written by Ben Elton; at the 2005 British Comedy Awards, it was publicly slated by Jonathan Ross, albeit in jest.^{[citation needed]} Towards the end of 2005, he played an eccentric Scottish character, Coconut Tam, in the family-based film, The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby. Although more commonly on television, he has appeared on radio - on July 18, 2011, he appeared on Quote... Unquote. Appropriately, one of his questions concerned a quotation from Father Ted.

In 2006, O'Hanlon wrote and presented an RTE television series called Leagues Apart, which saw him investigate the biggest and most passionate football rivalries in a number of European countries. Included were Roma vs Lazio in Italy, Barcelona vs Real Madrid in Spain, and Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce in Turkey. He followed this with another RTÉ show, So You Want To Be Taoiseach? in 2007. It was a political series where O'Hanlon gave tongue-in-cheek advice on how to go about becoming Taoiseach of Ireland. Both programmes went some way towards freeing O'Hanlon from his association with the character of Dougal in the minds of Irish audiences.

He appeared in the Doctor Who episode "Gridlock", broadcast on 14 April 2007, in which he played a feline alien named Thomas Kincade Brannigan.^[1] O'Hanlon appears in Series 3 of the TV show Skins, playing Naomi Campbell's Politics teacher named Kieran, who attempted to kiss her. He then went on to form a relationship with Naomi's mother. O'Hanlon plays the lead role in Irish comedy television programme Val Falvey, TD on RTE One. He has recently^[when?] performed in the Edinburgh Fringe.

In February 2011, O'Hanlon returned to the Gate Theatre, Dublin starring in the Irish premiere of Christopher Hampton's God of Carnage, alongside Maura Tierney.

In 2011, he appeared in the comedy panel show Argumental.

O'Hanlon has written a novel, The Talk of the Town (known in the United States as Knick Knack Paddy Whack), which was published in 1998. The novel is about a teenage boy, Patrick Scully, and his friends.

Personal life[link]

O'Hanlon is married to Melanie, whom he met as a teenager, and with whom he has three children. He is a supporter of Leeds United.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Ardal O'Hanlon

• Ardal O'Hanlon's official website
• Ardal O'Hanlon at the Internet Movie Database
• Ardal O'Hanlon on comedycv.co.uk
• Ardal O'Hanlon in Melbourne at The Australian Ireland Fund charity event

Micho Russell (March 15, 1915 – February 19, 1994) was an Irish musician and author best known for his expert tin whistle performance. He also played the simple-system flute and was a collector of traditional music and folklore.

Biography[link]

Russell was born in Doonagore, Doolin, County Clare, Ireland.^[1] Russell came from a musically renowned family, his mother played the concertina,^[2] and his father was a sean-nós singer.^[1] He had two brothers, Packie and Gussie, who were also musicians. He also had two sisters.^[2] He never married.

Music[link]

Russell taught himself to play the tin whistle by ear starting at age eleven. The 1960s revival of Irish traditional music brought him attention and performance opportunities. In 1973, Russell won the All-Ireland tin whistle competition,^[3] which further increased demand for his performances.^[1] Like Séamus Ennis, Russell was also known for his spoken introductions to tunes in his live performances, which incorporated folklore and legend. His knowledge of tradition extended past music to language, stories, dance, herbal lore, and old country cures.^[4]

Death[link]

Russell died in a car accident in 1994.

Works[link]

Original music[link]

"Micho Russell's Reel," his only known composition, is a variant of an older tune he called "Carthy's Reel." He told Charlie Piggott, "...So Carthy was beyond anyway and he heard the old tune from a piper playing it and he had the first part but only three-quarters of the second part. So when Séamus Ennis came around collecting music, I put in the last bit. That's roughly the story of the tune."^[4] The reel has been recorded by other artists such as Mary Bergin. His best-known songs were John Phillip Holland and The Well of Spring Water.^[5]

Discography[link]

John Williams (Green Linnet Records 1157) 7.1994 -

 "The Man from Clare" features duets with Eugene Lambe on Flute and Tin Whistle
1995
 'The Wind that shakes the Barley" Features Music, Song and Folklore
 "In Our Own Dear Land" A similar mix of Music,Song and stories.

Books[link]

See also[link]

• List of Irish music collectors

References[link]

• Vallely, Fintan; Piggott, Charlie (1998). Blooming Meadows: The World of Irish Traditional Musicians. Nutan. Roberts Rinehart Publishers. pp. 178–183. ISBN 1-86059-067-5. 
• Vallely, Fintan (1999). The Companion to Irish Traditional Music. New York, NY: New York University Press. pp. 324–325. ISBN 0-8147-8802-5. 

External links[link]

• Biography at Micho Russell Festival Weekend Includes biographical abstract and select bibliography / discography.
• Ireland's Whistling Ambassador Publisher's site.
• Ireland's Whistling Ambassador review in Musical Traditions Internet Magazine
• Technique and Style in Irish Music Includes MP3 sound clips and extensive commentary on Russell's style
• Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann biography
• Old Photos of Micho Russell and Doolin

Rod Webber
Born	Rod Webber Boston, MA, U.S.
Occupation	Filmmaker, Musician, Actor
Years active	1999–present

Rod Webber is an American musician, filmmaker and actor. Though, in his early music career he shared the stage with anti-folk acts Daniel Johnston (The Devil and Daniel Johnston) and Kimya Dawson, (former Moldy Peaches) ^[1] Webber is probably best known for his improvisational films and documentaries, many of which were created using Webber's personal manifesto which is sited in various publications about the filmmaker.^[2] Webber has twice directed former mumblecore,^[3][4][5] actress Greta Gerwig, first in his film I Thought You Finally Completely Lost It, and next in Northern Comfort, both shot primarily in a three-day shooting frenzy. Webber has also collaborated frequently (three times) with Doug 'Tiny The Terrible' Tunstall, an outsider politician, WWE wrestler ^[6] and the subject of Webber's documentary A Man Among Giants.^[7] In addition to his filmmaking, Webber has released several successful musical endeavors.

Career[link]

At 21,^[8] Rod Webber began climbing the college music charts with Burned My Feet On Meat Street.^[9][10] Webber followed up Burned My Feet with The You I Knew, featuring the lead track " Blue Hour".^[11] According to The Boston Globe, he began a courtship with major labels like Columbia, Arista, and Universal Records, but ultimately stuck to his indie roots, and continues to release records without the help of a major.^[12]

In 2005, Webber began directing Monkfish starring Lloyd Kaufman,^[13] and Tiny The Terrible, which debuted May 11, 2005 at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston.^[14] Webber followed up Monkfish with A Man Among Giants,^[15] a documentary in which Webber trails Monkfish star Doug 'Tiny' Tunstall AKA Tiny The Terrible in his quest to unseat James E. Doyle, the Mayor of Pawtucket Rhode Island.^[16] After Tunstall was arrested in 2009 for creating a disturbance in a courtroom, Webber bailed him out of jail. Tunstall was subsequently committed to a prison mental hospital, resulting in a year-long effort by Webber to have him released. Unsuccessful in helping Tiny's case through legal channels, Webber released a new feature-length documentary, American Psych Ward about Tunstall's unlawful imprisonment. After 4 days of packed screenings, Tunstall was released.^[17]

Webber's effort to have Tunstall released from prison indefinitely postponed the release of Northern Comfort, which he had shot with indie 'mumblecore' queen Greta Gerwig the previous year. The film was delayed until May 28, 2010, by which time, Gerwig had gone on to her mainstream acting career with titles such as Greenberg starring Ben Stiller. Despite the delay, Northern Comfort met with favorable reviews. According to the Boston Globe, Webber and Gerwig create "ornery sparks",^[18] and The Weekly Dig called him the "Anti-James Cameron" as a result.^[19]

Next, Webber began filming Milkweed, a drama starring Webber and Ali Bell who helped him to produce Psych Ward, the year before. Again, despite Webber's speedy filming technique, the film was delayed to promote the release of My America, a politically charged drama which was shot in the spring of 2010 after the production of Milkweed began. The Boston Globe called the film, "a shocking drama on the subject of racism." ^[20] Time Out Boston described My America as "chilling." ^[21]

According to IMDB, Webber Milkweed is scheduled for release later this year, and also stars Mark Wahlberg's eldest brother, Arthur.^[22]

Other works[link]

• Is the creator of UtopiaLand (2010), a new animated series.

• Created and organized a traveling event called "Circus of the Shattered Monkey" featuring live music, poetry, and sometimes films. The event was also known by its French name "Cirque Du Singe Brisé." ^[23]

Trivia[link]

• Rod's version of "Syd Barrett Blues" is the original version released in 2004, and came out a year before The Black Angels (band) "Syd Barrett Blues," which takes the concept of Webber's ode to Barrett in the vein of Barrett's tribute to Bob Dylan, "Bob Dylan Blues." ^[24]

• When starting out, was caught making one of his films without a permit. He was forced to shut down his production for use of a plastic toy pistol, and decided to instead release Burned My Feet On Meat Street.^[25]

• For a brief stretch in 2004, Webber wrote songs for his friend Michael Swasey, the host of The Swasey Show at WFNX.

• In 2007, Webber helped to document fellow Bostonians The Dropkick Murphys for their The Meanest of Times DVD.^[26]

• A longtime resident of Boston, Webber's 20-minute documentary of Brian McNamee shot in Everett, MA helped to break news on the Pro-Baseball steroid scandal ^[27] in 2008, and was posted by The Boston Herald on their website March 27 of that year.

• Webber has written, arranged and produced music for a handful of musicals and other theater productions. In 1998 he wrote the music for David Hanbury's Talking To Maybe, and co-wrote a number of songs for Personal Instrument in 2000, also by David Hanbury. He worked as music producer for cousin Jake Oliver's Viva Los Bastarditos.^[28]

Filmography as director, cinematographer, composer[link]