This article is from page 35 of the 2007-05-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 35 JPG
AFTER a long and peaceful win- ter, Ballyvaughan has well and truly woken in the last week as the Burren in Bloom Ballyvaughan Celebration breathed fresh life and energy into the village.
Now in its third year, Burren in Bloom is beginning to carve out a name for itself as one of Ireland’s foremost nature-based festivals.
“It started over three years ago, when a man called Padraig Cleary suggested that we start doing more in Ballyvaughan to promote the area to tourists. Out of that came the Burren
in Bloom and the Christmas market,” said Jim McCarthy, chairperson of the Burren in Bloom committee.
“The original concept was not to have a festival but more of a celebra- tion of the spring and the flowers of the Burren. We started hanging the May bush on the doors as a way of welcoming the spring and warding off any evil spirits.”
A key element of Burren in Bloom is a series of illustrated talks which take place throughout the month at the Burren College of Art in Bally- vaughan. Following good turnouts for both John Kirby of the Burren- Life Project and John Murphy of
Birdwatch Ireland during the week, expectation is growing that this will be one of the best attended and most exciting series to date.
Gordon D’Arcy of the Burren College of Art will host a talk this evening, Tuesday, May 8, on the sub- ject of songbirds and the Burren.
Other to appear over the next few weeks include David Lyons, James Moran, Mary Angela Keane, Sharon Parr and Brendan Dunford.
“T always think that for something like this to really catch on takes about five years or more.
“This is just our third year and things are building nicely. We have
had inquiries this year from the UK and New York as well as all around Ireland,’ continued Mr McCarthy.
“It’s working well, people are grad- ually getting to know the name. We know that people are staying longer in the village and, with the bank hol1- day weekend, things are really start- ing to get going.”
The celebration will also include a number of guided walking events in the Burren, Irish music nights, a jazz quartet and a whole series of nature related events building to the Buds of May Barbecue on May 26. For more information check out www.bally- vaughanireland.com