A new ‘Burren Bill’ could prevent devastating wild fires from destroying the protected Burren uplands in future years, while also allowing local farmers to regain much of the financial supports lost during the transition from the Burren Programme to ACRES. Following weeks of unprecedented dry and hot weather, the Burren uplands are currently as dry and susceptible to fire as they have ever been. As wildfires continued to blaze across the Tipperary mountains, an outbreak in the Burren would present “a serous problem” to firefighters. Founder of the Burren Programme, Brendan Dunford, says that the lack of farming in upland areas is driving forest fires in Ireland and the rest of Europe. Please leave this field empty LATEST CLARE NEWS AND SPORT This week's Clare news and sport, sent direct to your inbox every Monday morning.