Caherconnell Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations

Caherconnell Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations sits in the heart of the Burren, the distinctive limestone landscape of County Clare. The centrepiece is Caherconnell, a remarkably well-preserved medieval stone ringfort (a cashel) roughly a thousand years old, dating to around the 10th century. Guided tours lead visitors around the fort and share what archaeological excavations on the site have revealed about the people who lived here.

Alongside the fort, the site is a working farm run by the Davoren family, who have farmed this land for generations. Daily sheepdog demonstrations, held from around mid-March to October, show the farmer and his border collies working the sheep across the open Burren, guided by whistle and voice. The demonstrations are hands-on and relaxed, and visitors often have the chance to meet lambs in season and greet the collies afterwards.

There are walks and trails taking in views of the surrounding Burren, and a small café on site serving sandwiches, soups, coffee and baked goods. It makes for an easy half-day stop that combines archaeology, farming tradition and the region’s striking scenery in one place.