This article is from page 33 of the 2008-01-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
WHAT started as an archaeology weekend back in 1987 has trans- formed into one of the cultural and social highlights of the year in north OE
As the Burren Spring Conference prepares to celebrate its 21st birthday this weekend, regular attendees are marking the occasion by remember- ing the origins of the event.
The festivals began as informal gatherings organised by the late Michael Green in Hylands Hotel, Ballyvaughan in the early 1980s. It wasn’t until 1987 that Mr Green, along with George Cunningham, hosted the first formal Burren Spring Soc
“We thought it would be a good idea to organise the conference in Febru- ary, at a time when there wouldn’t be that many tourists around,” said founder George Cunningham.
“We had the best of Irish scholar- ship, principally on topics related to the Burren. We devised a structure of lectures on the Friday, and had the dawn walk on the Saturday morning before breakfast, then lectures and Jno Ce IO
“They were very pleasant occa- sions, and we had a lot of repeat visi- tors. They were tremendous events.”
With the foundation of the Burren College of Art, the conference grew and moved from Hylands to the lec- ture halls of the college and the new- ly restored Newtown Castle.
“Following Michael’s death there was a change of emphasis,’ contin- ued Mr Cunningham. “For the last number of year there has been a dif- ferent convener each year, and a cen- tral topic.
“It has become less archaeologi- cal and historic and more socially based. It has a much broader aspect to it now.
“The whole Burren itself is attrac- tive at any time, but particularly so in the beginning of February. That time of the year gives a different perspec- tive of the Burren.
“Most of the people who came to the conference would have been peo- ple who were deeply interested in the Burren and wanted to explore it in a CUES KoKS LMNs: h Ae
This year’s conference, which is convened by Ann Byrne from NUI Galway, focuses on the idea of sto- ries and the ways in which they are passed on and retold.
The conference, entitled ‘°Narra- tives of People and Place: Burren Stories, Told and Untold’, takes place this weekend.
Expert speakers include Daithi O hOgain of the Department of Irish Folklore in UCD, writers Ré O Laighleis and Kieran Sheedy, Celtic Scholar Sean O Duinin, Lelia Doolin and Donnachada O’Corrain.