Grasses

Despite its seeming barreness the Burren supports rich grasslands, and cattle are brought from all over Ireland to fatten on the winterage (high winter grazing) here. The 300 sqkm of bare limestone that is the Burren acts like a huge storage heater, soaking in the summer sun and then keeping the whole region a degree or two warmer than the rest of the country in the winter. This extends the growing season for grasses and the limestone itself provides lime for their growth. Which explain why the 11th century Cistercian Abbey of Corcomroe was also know as Sancta Maria de Petra Fertilis (or St. Mary of the Fertile Rock).

Ralph Doyle