Welcome to The Burren
A visit to the Burren, one of the world’s most stunningly unique natural heritage regions is the beginning of a journey through time. This is a region which was largely sculpted over the last two million years by God and his glaciers, through the exposure and submergence of its landscape to ice, ocean and the plate movements of the earth.
As such, the Burren is a treasure store for lovers of wildflowers and wildlife, geology, ancient history, cave systems and magnificent vistas – recognised in its status as a UNESCO Geopark, featuring the largest expanse of limestone pavement in the world.
The magic of its stones is reflected in its name – in Irish – An Bhoireann, 'a stony place'.
About Us
The Burren Visitor Centre is a self-funded, not-for-profit community cooperative which has been run and managed by the people of the Burren for the last 50 years.
It is situated in the historic village of Kilfenora, City of Crosses, and is the licensed information point for the Burren and North Clare, where visitors can gain bespoke advice on what to see, where to go, and how to get there, as well as picking up useful maps and discount vouchers.
The Burren Visitor Centre also houses the comprehensive Burren Exhibition, which provides a fascinating insight into the identity of The Burren, from its extraordinary landscapes, array of flora and wildlife, megalithic tombs and archaeological monuments older than Egypt’s pyramids, to the history, culture and traditional values of the people of the Burren, past and present.
The Burren Exhibition is the perfect starting point to any trip to the region for a deeper appreciation and respect for this stone-carved land.
Kilfenora, City of Crosses
There is no village on or near the Wild Atlantic Way that has such a range of historical artefacts as Kilfenora, which, due to its ancient cathedral -St Fachnan's, can actually lay claim to being the world’s smallest city.
As its name suggests, the village is also famous for its group of ancient Celtic crosses, more than in any other single place in Ireland, with the earliest dating to the 9th Century AD.
During the summer season, The Burren Visitor Centre run guided Village Tours.
Kilfenora also has a special and unique place in traditional Irish music with a range of tunes associated with it, with no other village in Ireland having such distinction. Its special style, that harks back to the late 1800s, derives from the long tradition of musical activity in the village including fife & drum and brass bands and set dances.
The Kilfenora Céilí Band, which was formed in 1909, is one of the longest-established musical ensembles in the world, and celebrated for having twice won ‘3-in-a-row” All-Ireland championships. It is now a national Irish institution with an international reputation. The Kilfenora Céilí Band Exhibition can be found in the Burren Visitor Centre.
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The Burren Visitor Centre is a not-for-profit Social Enterprise Project run by Community Co-operative, Comhar Conradh Na Boirne. This project is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Pobal through the Community Services Programme.