It’s a walk back through history and one of the world’s most wondrous landscapes; Joe Queally’s annual Burren Ramble in aid of the RNLI Lifeboats.

The historian and author from Fanore leads the annual 8km ramble to the Famine Road at Rock Forest, Tubber, this Sunday, taking the walkers to one of the most precious of places in the Burren Landscape or, as he says, the whole wide world.

“A beautiful feature of all the Burren Rambles down the years has been the ‘healing experience’ lying on the flat stones of the Burren, this of course will be part of this year’s ramble,” says Joe.

The story of the Famine Road goes back close on 200 years when people walked the road from Kilkeedy, Tubber, Boston, Corofin and surrounds, to try to make it to America and further afield, to escape the Great Hunger of 1845.

“Many didn’t make the journey and their gentle souls rest on the famine road. It is our privilege to walk in their footsteps, to be part of their journey, and to be part of them and let them be part of us,” says Joe.

“Stand on the famine road facing the great windswept mountain ranges of Mullaghmore on your own, or with a friend, and let the winds come at you, to give you a feeling of belonging to the soil, the rocks, the flowers, and the fauna, it is all by your side just reach out and touch it. It is a day and a memory you will never forget.”

The location to get to for parking is R460 Road from Corofin to Gort (Eir Code H91 RH3E) between 11am and noon.

The 8km ramble itself leaves for the famine road at 12 noon, and Joe describes it ‘as easy to moderate’.

“Bring good runners or walking boots and the rain gear, just in case of a shower. There will be the taste of black pudding and brown bread as well,” he advises.

Pictured: Burren Ramble….Joe Queally.