Burrenbeo Trust’s annual celebration of the Burren's unique biodiversity returns this year from 2 to 31 May 2026 with a rich and varied programme of events taking place throughout the month. Burren in Bloom 2026 invites people to experience this special landscape at the height of its seasonal beauty, when wildflowers, birds, bees and butterflies are at their peak.
The programme brings together guided walks, workshops, talks, and immersive experiences led by expert ecologists, botanists, ornithologists, geologists, and artists. Events explore a wide range of habitats including limestone grasslands, woodlands, farms, rivers, and coastal landscapes.
A key highlight this year is “The Ups and Downs, Ins and Outs of a Burren River”, a guided journey following the hidden path of the Gowlaun River through the Burren’s limestone landscape. This event offers a rare opportunity to see first-hand how rivers disappear underground and re-emerge, revealing the fascinating geology that shapes the region.
The strong connection between traditional farming and biodiversity in the Burren is also central to the programme. The “Return to Winterage Walk” explores the unique Burren practice of Winterage, where cattle graze on the limestone uplands during the winter months. For thousands of years, farmers have moved cattle onto these ‘winterage’ pastures at the end of summer. The dry, free-draining limestone provides a natural ‘dry lie’, allowing cattle to graze throughout the winter and feed on rank grasses at a time when most plants are dormant. This seasonal grazing creates the open conditions that enable the Burren’s renowned diversity of wildflowers and pollinators to flourish in spring and summer.
Throughout the month, a series of walks focused on wildflowers and habitats, including events on Burren farms, grasslands, and woodlands, will give participants the chance to experience these flowers up close. Guided walks such as “Wildflowers and Living Landscapes”, “Burren Wildflowers and Woodlands”, and “Plants of Our Great Irish Grasslands” highlight the diversity of species that make the Burren renowned.
Other highlights include butterfly walks showcasing rare species, an Atlantic rainforest walk, a bee walk exploring pollinators, and a variety of creative and wellbeing events such as nature craft and writing workshops and hilltop yoga.
Áine Bird, CEO of Burrenbeo Trust, says:
“Each year, Burren in Bloom offers a chance to slow down and reconnect with the natural world at its most vibrant. It’s a celebration of the Burren’s remarkable biodiversity, but also a reminder that protecting these landscapes has never been more important.”
While indoor events are free, a small fee applies to most outdoor events to support the ongoing work of Burrenbeo Trust. Advance booking is essential.
This year's programme is supported by the Burrenbeo Business Members and Geological Survey Ireland.
For more information and booking, visit www.burreninbloom.com
To read our case study on Carina Roseingrave from Burren View Farm, and learn how she is using supports under Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 to improve biodiversity on her farm, click here.
