‘Foraging for food in the Burren’
With Oonagh O’Dwyer
6th October, 2013
2pm @ Gortlecka Crossroads (51R 304 945)
Join us on October’s Burrenbeo Trust walk for the opportunity to find out about the food which is all around us with local forager and organic grower Oonagh O’Dwyer of WildKitchen.ie. Wild food is seasonal, local, nutritious and free, beneficial to human health and can be used as food medicine.
The walk will include information on plant identification, plants to avoid, what’s in season, and an introduction to the vast culinary uses of wild food. While we will not be able to ‘harvest’ food from the park, we will be able to sample.
The walk will be a gentle stroll in Burren meadows and limestone pavement – please wear appropriate footwear and bring waterproofs etc.
Walk starts at 2pm from Gortlecka crossroads. The walk is open to everyone. However, it is free for Burrenbeo Trust Members and a donation of €5 is suggested from non-members. For more information please email trust(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)burrenbeo.com or phone 091 638096.
Directions
From the North (Kinvara)
Leaving Kinvara head West along the N67 and take the first turn left after c.500m. Drive c.4km along the road keeping left, passing the graveyard, until you reach a 4-way crossroads (signposted for the Burren perfumery). Go straight through and drive on for c.2.5km, then keep left when you get to a fork. Follow this road for another c.4km then you get to a T-junction, take a left, after c.2km take a right then drive straight for another c.4.5km and you will reach Gortlecka Cross. Park here.
From the West (Ballyvaughan)
Drive South on the N67 from Ballyvaughan. After c.1.5km take a left towards Poulnabrone Dolmen on the R480. Carry on straight for approximately for c.13kms until you pass Leamaneagh Castle. Take a left here on the R476 for c.4.5kms. In Kilnaboy village turn left for another c.2km, then left again for another c.2kms. Here you will reach Gortlecka Cross. Park here.
From the East (Crusheen)
Drive through Crusheen and after 1.2km past the village take the first left turn (signposted for Tubber). Drive straight through for c.8kms, passing Tubber) until you reach a 4-way crossroads (signposted for the Burren perfumery). Take a left turn here onto the R460. Drive on for c.5.5kms then take the second turn right. Follow this road for less than c.1kms. Here you will reach the base of Mullaghmore. Continue along until you get to a crossroads. Park here..
From the South (Corofin- Kilfenora)
Travel to the village of Kilnaboy on the R476 northwards from Corofin, which is c.4km. In Kilnaboy village turn right for another c.2kms, then left again for just under 3kms. Here you will reach Gortlecka Cross. Park here.
We had a great day, the weather despite it’s self cleared as we approached the Mountain that is Mullaghmore……shrouded in mist, majestic, ancient, sacred. And out of no-where the hunter gatherers drew in to join me on a wild food walk beneath this special mountain……thanks to you all and there were many, young and old, some traveling from as far away as Clifden in Co.Galway. Wild Oregano, Sorrel, Hazel nuts and all sorts of berries were ours, though we just sample foraged, we came across over 20 wild edible plants….the mild Autumn in our favour, frogs also abounded as did various strange looking Fungi, a new Lichen to me and some new plants, such is the diversity of the Burren,
