The Book of the Burren

This book's first edition, published in 1991, was part of a growing affirmation of the importance of the Burren, a hymn to its diversity, beauty and singularity. Ten years later, much has happened in the Burren. Old problems receded; new problems emerged. The new insights of this decade, exciting in themselves, brought new responsibilities. This updated edition looks at some of these issues. The contributors describe how the natural heritage of the Burren depends on traditional farming practices and why the impact of booming tourism has not been entirely beneficial. Insensitive planning decisions have led local communinities to become actively involved in sustaining and defending their magnificent landscape and this highlighted the pressing need for an overall vision of the Burren to be encapsulated in a coherent, government-backed management and development plan. This second edition also updates the natural history and archaeology and includes new chapters on poets and artists in the Burren.