Clare and Limerick may be neighbours, but they are certainly two very different counties. From the unique landscape of the Burren to the lush fields of the Golden Vale, the region has such a variance in land and farming systems. While dairy is huge in Limerick, beef is big in Clare and we profile the region’s marts on page 7.

It’s always interesting to see how people adapt to their surroundings, so Going Local spoke to a farmer involved with the BurrenLIFE programme on page 8 who is reaping the benefits of the initiative.

Another great story is that of Clare man Padraig Giblin who turned a 14-acre farm into a successful netting company, who we talk to on page 5.

For centuries, this region has connected Ireland to the rest of the world through its port and our interview with CEO of Shannon Foynes Port Pat Keating tells us just how important it is for the agri sector and the national economy on page 15.

Talking about history, we also spent a Saturday morning at the Limerick Milk Market, which goes back to the 13th century, and found out how important the market is for the local economy and got to speak with some of the people who sell produce there – see pages 10-11.

Both coastal counties, Limerick and Clare are brilliant holiday destinations, with plenty to see, eat and do and we have suggestions on pages 18-19.