The Burren in North Clare is renowned for its unusual and diverse flora and for its rich archaeological and historical heritage. It is also one of the most distinctive landscape regions in Ireland, featuring bare rock pavements, cliffed and terraced hills, caves, seasonal lakes, springs, disappearing streams, and a varied coast that passes south into the Cliffs of Moher, one of the most dramatic coastlines in Ireland. Because of these features, the region is a hotspot for scientists working in the fields of geology (rocks) and geomorphology (the shape of the land). Public understanding of these aspects of the region, however, is poor, and the outstanding geo(morpho)logical value of the landscape had no official recognition so far.

In order to tackle these issues, the potential of the region as a UNESCO-assisted Global Geopark has been investigated; as recognition as a Geopark would raise significant awareness of the unique landscape and rocks of the region on both a local and international level. The Burren Connect Project (http://www.burrenconnect.ie/ ), with the support of the Geological Survey of Ireland prepared an application to the European Geoparks Network (EGN), which was lodged in early 2011. For details of the work carried out by the Burren Connect Project on the Geopark project, see: http://www.burrenconnect.ie/geopark/geopark.html

In the meantime, the Burren Connect Project, representing Ireland, took part in the NEED project (Northern Environmental Education Development). NEED is a transnational European initiative that focuses on the development of geo-education resources in four regions on Europe’s northern Atlantic periphery. NEED supports the development of geological learning resources, the promotion of an awareness of the landscape, and the establishment of sustainable contacts between education providers, visitor centres and the wider tourism community. The Burren represents Ireland as one of the four European regions within NEED. The other countries are Norway, Finland and Iceland. NEED is coordinated in Ireland by the Burren Connect Project. NEED was funded by the Northern Periphery Programme 2007-2013, with the support of Clare County Council, the Geological Survey of Ireland and Shannon Development. See http://www.geoneed.org/ for details and educational resources produced: http://www.geoneed.org/category/archives/ireland/ . Resources developed by the Burren Connect Project for the NEED project were launched on the 12th May 2011. For details of resources, see page.

All the hard work finally paid off in September 2011, when the "Burren and Cliffs of Moher" were awarded the UNESCO assisted Global Geopark status at the 10th EGN Conference in Langesund, Norway. The award is the culmination of a long application process that was coordinated by Clare County Council through the Burren Connect Project, with the support of GSI and Shannon Development. See Press Release.