This article is from page 10 of the 2014-06-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
WATER from the Burren could be used to solve ongoing drinking water shortages on the Aran Islands following the discovery of a series of fresh water caves connecting North Clare with the islands.
The discovery of the massive cave network running underneath Galway Bay was made by scientists at NUI, Galway, who investigated the possibility following reports of fresh water currents in the sea by fishermen on the Aran Islands.
The cave network is understood to be in the region of 20 metres wide and runs for at least 50 miles. Further investigation is required on the unique underwater cave structure before its potential as a water source can be fully explored.
The massive underground river is made possible due to the limestone landscape of Burren, which can be dissolved by rainwater to form underground conduits.
“We were told about a well at a local hotel on Inishmaan that had an excellent supply of fresh water,” said Dr Tiernan Henry, Lecturer in Environmental Geology, School of Natural Sciences at NUI Galway.
“The islands can have water problems, they are always short, but this well went deep into the rock and was getting more water than falls on the whole island.”
These types of cave structures are similar to those at the Aillwee Caves in Ballyvaughan and Doolin Cave in Doolin. Indeed, there are a large number of underground cave network all around the Burren – only a fraction of which have be explored or mapped.
The Burren was last year given an award to recognise the work being undertaken to conserve some of Europe’s most outstanding natural and semi-natural areas.
The Council of Europe chose the Burren, stating the award recognises the European significance of the area, which has remarkable natural values, a rich flora and fauna, an important cultural heritage, traditional socio-economic activities and good management.