A virtual journey to the Burren area of Ireland

poetry and prose about place

A virtual journey to the Burren area of Ireland

Lately, I am aware of being on the computer every time I get a free minute. I have always been a multitasker and, when we watch TV, for example, I usually write, or sew, or play a game on my laptop. Lately I have been wishing for a more relaxing break time.

I am a botanist and in my writing life, I have collected many books. Among these has been The Burren & The Aran Islands: A Walking Guide (Tony Kirby, The Collins Press, Cork, 2014). I have never been to Ireland, but some of my ancestors lived there (my Ancestry DNA result indicates I am 4% from Connacht, Ireland, and 1% from Leinster, Ireland) and I am interested in the world they experienced.

For this reason, I started to read The Walking Guide and quickly realized I was impressed by the geology of the area and the wildflowers found there. I also have a copy of the book The Wildflowers of Ireland: A Field Guide (Zoe Devlin, The Collins Press, Cork, 2018), so I have been able to look at a photo and description of the various species in The Walking Guide.

I realized as I read, that I would be able to get a better idea of the terrain and landscape on Google Earth‘s ‘Street View.’ Although the specific trails are not always found on Street View, many people have posted photos of parts of the trails. So, here I am, back on the computer!

One of the most interesting aspects of this part of Ireland is the limestone pavements. This feature is extensive in the area and is made up of limestone rock. Blocks of the pavement are called glints; between glints are fissures called grikes. The pavements are a feature of Karst topography and were created by sedimentation and glacial erosion.

An example of the limestone pavements; notice the vegetation often grows in the ‘grikes,’ the spaces between the ‘glints.’

Although I know most of the flora of Canada and North America, I am encountering plants I have never seen was well as some I know well. An example of a plant known to me because it grows in our area, is yellow-rattle (Rhinanthus minor). A plant I have never seen is hoary-rockrose (Helianthemum oelandicum ssp. piloseelloides) a plant rare in Ireland. This is a low growing plant with 5-petalled yellow flowers.

I will enjoy my virtual walk through the Burren and the Aran Islands of Ireland. I am currently working on Route 5 of The Walking Guide. From time to time, I will post about some of the interesting geology, plants and history I encounter.