Caherconnell Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations: Discover Irish History and Present-Day Farming Culture
4.9
262 Ratings
Carran

At Caherconnell, contemporary customs and past chronicles harmoniously unite. Not only can tourists delve into the historical and archaeological aspects of our ancestors, but they can also witness the agricultural traditions of the Burren, inherited and perpetuated across ages.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Caherconnell Stone Fort is a well-preserved stone ringfort located 1km south of the Poulnabrone dolmen in the heart of Burren, Ireland. This fort remains in its untouched state and its geography, overlooking the majority of the surrounding areas, implies it was intended for defensive purposes. Each summer, ‘CAFS’ - the Caherconnell Archaeological Field School, which is accredited by NUI, Galway - conducts archaeological excavations. Visitors, apart from exploring the Fort, can watch Burren’s top Sheepdog Demonstrations at Caherconnell. Here, one can admire the teamwork between the farmer and the border collie as they operate in Burren’s natural landscape. Information about demonstration timings can be found on our website.
What's Included
  • Admission to Caherconnell Fort
  • Sheepdog Demos at 14:00 daily
Location
Caherconnell Stone Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(262 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Teeterportezzy
May 22, 2024
Great experience of the fort and sheep dog demonstrations! - This area is so incredibly beautiful and so worth the drive. We drove from Galway (1 hour) and was so happy we did. The fort tour was led by an archeologly student who had participated in previous digs on site and made it so interesting. After the fort tour, we were led by the sheep herder to the Sheepdog demonstrations. The dogs we so incredibly talented and the sheep were so interesting. They point out the different breeds of the sheep and explain how the dogs are trained. Don't miss this it is a must do!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
308sesim
May 22, 2024
100% recommended to anyone who enjoys learning while having fun! - We had a blast the whole time. The visit of the fort was so interesting and Pat, our guide, funny, clear spoken (which is nice seeing how hard the Irish accent is to understand sometimes) and very knowledgeable. And the sheepdog demonstration was great, Jill the young border collie was hilarious and the bond between the trainer and the dogs a joy to behold. The food at the cafe was also pretty good. All in all, we had an awesome day out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Whatev3r
May 21, 2024
Beautiful drive - Must see! The drive to the farm is most beautiful! The dogs were great. Highly recommend. The fort was pretty cool and they are still excavating new finds.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alison
May 20, 2024
Fabulous - don’t miss it! - Our visit was so interesting, enjoyable and entertaining! We highly recommend this visit while in the vicinity of the Cliffs of Moher. A lovely cafe as well. The folks providing the sheep dog demonstration and stone fort history were fabulous- so friendly and engaging. This is a definite’10’ - don’t miss it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G7199zckathyw
May 18, 2024
Don't miss it - Highly rate this tour. I did not do the fort part as that did not interest me. There is a really good Cafe and beautiful gift shop with very nice items especially woolen items. The sheepdog tour took about 40 minutes. Was very informative and at times humorous. The owner is very personable. At the end we were allowed to hold the baby sheep and were introduced to all the different breeds on the farm. Cost was about $22.00. A deal for what you got. If you're into animals this is a must
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chuckscott
May 15, 2024
Great time, great dogs. So much family fun. - This was so much fun! John was wonderful and my wife and I spent about 45 minutes after the demonstration just talking. The dogs were great and so well trained. Anyone could tell that the dogs and the sheep are well taken care of and respected.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kristinez729
May 10, 2024
Fun and educational - Impressive. Everyone was very welcoming. The dogs were so impressive! Amd we learned alot on the tour. What a treat to get a tour from an archeologist who was part if the discoveries made at the fort!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Caren
May 8, 2024
Experts on site - positive experience - This was such a terrific experience. I can’t speak highly enough of this place. For starters, they have an archeologist on site to explain the nuances of the stone fort. Stephany is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about this area. She also happened to be part of the excavation team a few years back and shared some sweet details from that experience. I’ve been to other Neolithic sites in Ireland, but to have an expert on hand to answer questions was awesome. Then, switching gears to the sheep do go demonstration. Greg was very knowledgeable and a lot of fun (and funny!). He has a lot of love for the dogs who were happy to be doing their job and activating their instincts. We got a lot of time with the dogs and Q&A after the show, including petting the dogs and even holding a lamb. Some children who were there enjoyed this part, but we adults were just as enthusiastic. The gift shop staff are also lovely. I enjoyed talking with them and learning more about our the area. Lastly, the scenery is stunning. This is truly a unique Irish experience. No lines, no massive crowds. I highly recommend visiting this place.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kattinka47
May 10, 2024
Nice performance - Nicely done performance, at the end you can pet the dogs and hold a lamb. If you don't speak English well, it will probably be a bit boring.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Simibelle
May 13, 2024
Hard to understand but very impressive work - It was very impressive work of both the dogs and the trainer. Unfortunately I didn't understand the trainer very well because he has a strong Irish accent. Since it is especially for tourists I would have appreciated it if he had tried to speak with a little less of an accent and I think quite a lot of people felt the same way. I didn't get a lot of the information due to not understanding him which was a bummer. Also I think the demonstration could be a little longer. But the information I did get was interesting. All the staff are very friendly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today