Reverse Transhumance: From the Boyne to the Burren, the Story of Winterage in Ireland’s Burren

Olivia Duff

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Winterage is an ancient system of transhumance (the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures).This paper will explore the interesting phenomenon of reverse transhumance which occurs annually in the Burren in County Clare. Winterage is special as it is a highly unusual form of ‘reverse’ transhumance whereby livestock spend the winter out grazing on dedicated pastures, the opposite of what typically happens in other transhumance systems. In the case of the Burren, the traditional practice entails the movement of cattle from lowlands in Autumn to winter on the limestone uplands in this unique geological region of Ireland. The paper will track the history and the science that underpins this counterintuitive practice. It also charts the linkage between strong cattle farmers in County Meath and the Burren Winterage, highlighting the annual movement of large herds of cattle west across the island for upland winter grazing amid the limestone karst. Finally, it will underpin the significance of the traditional as listed on the National Inventory of Ireland's Cultural Heritage in the category of "knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe".
Original languageEnglish
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Externally publishedYes

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