The unique landscape of the Burren can exert a powerful hold on visitors and those who live there.
Since 1987 Sarah Poyntz has been writing a monthly diary about the Burren for the Country Diary column of the Guardian newspaper.
Now published in book form, A Burren Journal contains a selection of over 60 of these diaries.
The author writes about how the Burren changes through the seasons of the year.
She describes in detail the animals and birds of the countryside and seashore, and captures the beauty of the rare and wonderful diversity of wild flowers for which the area is so famous.
She also speaks about her friends and neighbours, and life in the north Clare village of Ballyvaughan.
Born in New Ross, Co Wexford, and educated in Gorey and UCD, Sarah Poyntz lived in England for many years and taught English at schools in London, Cornwall and Cam bridge.
She then moved to the United States for a time.
In 1983 she paid a visit to Ballyvaughan, fell in love with it and moved there three years later.
She now lives in a house overlooking Galway Bay, where she writes, gardens and continues to explore the Burren.
The building of model boats has been a hobby for many years. Self-taught, she has now perfected the art.
Her small workshop contains an impressive array of instruments - saws, electronic drills, fine files and a manual drill with a point no bigger than a pin.
One of the craft she built, the USS Constellation, is on permanent display in the Famine Museum in Strokestown, Co Roscommon.
A Burren Journal is a delight to read and contains an impressive selection of fine illustrations by the well-known naturalist and author, Gordon d'Arcy, and the illustrator Anne Korff.
It is published by Tir Eolas, a small publishing house near Kinvara, Co Galway. Price £7.99.