Pictured at the launch of the Eco Beo project in Carron, County Clare (L-R) Eimear McCarthy, Burren Connect Project, Gordan Darcy, wildlife expert; Zena Hoctor, Zoologist/Microbiologist; John Murphy, Clare Biodiversity Officer; and Ann O'Connor, BurrenbeoThe Burren Connect Project and Burrenbeo have launched an education programme aimed at opening up the Burren Region’s vast and varied heritage to primary school students, writes Damian Carroll.
The Eco-Beo education programme will be delivered between January and June 2008 to eight national schools in North Clare and South Galway, offering over 200 primary school students and their teachers a unique insight into the Burren’s world famous karst landscape. The primary schools participating in the 2008 programme are Kinvara N.S., Kilnaboy N.S., New Quay N.S., Corofin N.S., Kilfenora N.S., Doorus N.S., Kilshanny N.S. and Tubber N.S. The Burren Connect Project is presently seeking additional funding to extend the course to other Burren schools in 2008 and 2009.
The launch of the Programme took place last evening at The Michael Cusack Centre in Carron, where course tutors, sponsors and participating teachers came together to finalise details. It was announced that over the 10-week duration of the course, participants would learn about various aspects of the Burren – its animals, plants, monuments, landscape and culture - through a series of colourful classroom presentations. This will be followed by weekly quizzes, e-newsletters and assignments. Professional course tutors, all of whom are experts in their individual areas, will deliver each module. Students will be taken on a Burren field trip, where they will have the opportunity to put their newfound knowledge to the test.
The Eco-Beo concept was originally developed by Burrenbeo, which rolled out the Programme to six Burren schools in 2004. According to Ann O’Connor of Burrenbeo, “Through educating the young people, the future custodians of the Burren, the programme aims to instil among the children a sense of informed pride, ownership and responsibility for their heritage, as well as producing a fresh and fascinating insight into the region. We want this course to be the best Heritage Education Programme of its kind ever rolled out in Ireland, as befits a place as special as the Burren.” The Burren Connect Project, formerly known as the ‘Environmental Protection of the Burren through Visitor Management Initiative’, is funded by the Fáilte Ireland Development Fund, Clare County Council, Shannon Development, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Burrenbeo (a Not for Profit Organisation), and is working to link communities, environment and tourism to conserve the Burren.
The Eco-Beo education programme will be delivered between January and June 2008 to eight national schools in North Clare and South Galway, offering over 200 primary school students and their teachers a unique insight into the Burren’s world famous karst landscape. The primary schools participating in the 2008 programme are Kinvara N.S., Kilnaboy N.S., New Quay N.S., Corofin N.S., Kilfenora N.S., Doorus N.S., Kilshanny N.S. and Tubber N.S. The Burren Connect Project is presently seeking additional funding to extend the course to other Burren schools in 2008 and 2009.
The launch of the Programme took place last evening at The Michael Cusack Centre in Carron, where course tutors, sponsors and participating teachers came together to finalise details. It was announced that over the 10-week duration of the course, participants would learn about various aspects of the Burren – its animals, plants, monuments, landscape and culture - through a series of colourful classroom presentations. This will be followed by weekly quizzes, e-newsletters and assignments. Professional course tutors, all of whom are experts in their individual areas, will deliver each module. Students will be taken on a Burren field trip, where they will have the opportunity to put their newfound knowledge to the test.
The Eco-Beo concept was originally developed by Burrenbeo, which rolled out the Programme to six Burren schools in 2004. According to Ann O’Connor of Burrenbeo, “Through educating the young people, the future custodians of the Burren, the programme aims to instil among the children a sense of informed pride, ownership and responsibility for their heritage, as well as producing a fresh and fascinating insight into the region. We want this course to be the best Heritage Education Programme of its kind ever rolled out in Ireland, as befits a place as special as the Burren.” The Burren Connect Project, formerly known as the ‘Environmental Protection of the Burren through Visitor Management Initiative’, is funded by the Fáilte Ireland Development Fund, Clare County Council, Shannon Development, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Burrenbeo (a Not for Profit Organisation), and is working to link communities, environment and tourism to conserve the Burren.
