Press Release
Geological Survey Ireland announces funding for seven community geoheritage projects
Projects located across Sligo, Mayo, Meath, Dublin, Tipperary and Waterford
Geological Survey Ireland has awarded Geoheritage grants to seven community-based projects around the country. The funds, valued at up to €10,000 each, are available under the Geoheritage Grant Scheme run by the Geoheritage Programme in Geological Survey Ireland. They support the development and publication of educational and outreach materials by local groups, established geotourism sites, aspiring geoparks and UNESCO Global Geoparks. The aim of the fund is to encourage the telling of the Irish geological story, improve the understanding of geoscience, and to engage with local groups throughout the country.
Geology is part of the heritage of Ireland and is celebrated as part of who we are. Our tourism industry is influenced by the landscape and the underlying rocks, and the geological and geographical features give rise to our agriculture, food, and often our place names and traditions. Due to the broad diversity of geology in Ireland and the relative recentness of the shaping of the landscape, every townland has the potential for an interesting geoheritage story. The fund has been available to all community and local groups since 2019 in order to promote geodiversity, geoheritage and geoscience education through wider community engagement.
The successful applications in 2024 continue to demonstrate the diversity of Irish geology and geoheritage and its value to local initiatives and communities. Several of the projects highlight community engagement with the local geology and geoheritage. Carraig Nua Science will develop a free app to connect visitors to the Wild Atlantic way to the geological heritage of Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim. A project by Siga Hydro Ltd. supporting community projects and commemorating the significant role that mining played in our history, will publish an edited volume of scientific papers related to the Silvermines mining district and the old Magcobar mine site. Sonairte Ecology Centre and Gardens will add geological heritage and geology to the understanding of the biodiversity in their public walks and trails. Hotwell House will support, promote and protect the cultural, historic and scientific heritage of a hot-spring county geological heritage site, known as St. Gorman's well, located on their land. Gareth L. Jones will publish a unique guide to hill walking in Ireland and further afield which has a strong connection to and description of the geology and geological heritage of each walk's environment.
The UNESCO Global Geoparks continue to celebrate their local geology, and this year, the Copper Coast UGGp continues to build on a new generation of geoheritage focused trails to be available both virtual and on the ground. The Joyce Country and Western Lakes (JCWL) aspiring geopark aims to develop a walk showcasing geological features by selecting boulders representing the main lithologies from the geopark region and placing them along the existing trail to the waterfall in Tourmakeady Woods.
Koen Verbruggen, Director of Geological Survey Ireland, welcomed the announcement and commented “The Geological Survey has been working throughout the country since 1845 and this is one way to give back to communities, to foster good relationships, and to encourage people to work with us to use the data, maps and expertise to develop local tourism and educational resources. The projects this year show the breadth of ways geology and geoheritage can be used for tourism, education and local pride building on the work undertaken by local community projects who received similar funding in previous years since 2020. I am delighted the Geoheritage Grant Scheme had attracted so many applications this year and I look forward to the results of the community collaborations."
Ends
For further information please contact the Press Office of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, at press.office@decc.gov.ie or 01 678 2441.
Notes to the Editor
- Geological Survey Ireland is the National Earth Science agency. It is responsible for providing geological advice and information, and for the acquisition of data for this purpose. Geological Survey Ireland produces a range of products including maps, reports and databases and acts as a knowledge centre and project partner in all aspects of Irish geology. It is a division of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
- Geological Survey Ireland provides a Duty Geologist service to the public to address geological queries and concerns. For more information, www.gsi.ie.
- The Geoheritage Programme in Geological Survey Ireland has responsibility for the protection and promotion of sites of geological importance. It identifies sites as County Geological Sites for inclusion in County Development and Heritage Plans. County Audits are carried out in partnership with the Heritage Council and local authorities and the most significant County Geological Sites are recommended to the National Parks and Wildlife Service for potential future designation as Natural Heritage Areas. It works with local authorities and community groups on the development of Geotourism products and in particular on the establishment and support of UNESCO Global Geoparks.
- More information about the Geological Survey Ireland Geoheritage Programme and projects https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/programmes-and-projects/geoheritage/Pages/default.aspx
Full list of grant recipients:
| Carraig Nua Geoscience | Co Sligo | This project will deliver a geospatial app to enhance Wild Atlantic Way visitors' engagement with the route's geology and geoheritage in counties Donegal, Leitrim, and Sligo. The app will guide geotourists to 60 new, site-specific online experiences developed to educate them on the geology and geoheritage they can see and engage with. |
| Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark | Co Waterford | This project will create a new stylised printable visitor map of the Copper Coast Geopark, blending geology with humans and natural heritage. It will also create an online story map version of the printable map using the created map imagery and iconography. The digital version of the map will serve a double purpose as an educational aid for visitors and local school children. It will be an easy place-based introduction to geological and mining heritage. It will also be possible to display the digital version of the map as an in-situ educational activity in the Copper Coast Visitor centre in a digital format, for example on a tablet. |
| Joyce Country and Western Lakes aspiring geopark | Co Mayo Co Galway | The proposed project will develop a geodiversity walk in Tourmakeady Woods, Co Mayo, a Coillte owned woodland focussing on recreation and boasting a national trail. The walk aims to showcase geological features by sustainably selecting 10-12 boulders representing the main lithologies from the geopark region and placing them along the existing trail to the waterfall in Tourmakeady Woods. As well as information panels at the start and end of the trail. Each boulder will have its own information panel describing where to find the rock in the geopark region, specific features of the rock and the process behind its formation. |
| Gareth L Jones | Nationwide | Classic Mountain Days - a 300-page hardback, pictorial mountain memoir illustrating over 60 years of highland exploration and adventure. These walks recognise the geoheritage of the geological structure of the hills and the glacial activity, karst development and landscape changes that can be identified. Each of the over 50 treks has a map and an introduction to the geological and topographic features that are present. This book sets wonderful Irish walks and climbs in an international context. |
| Siga-Hydro Ltd | Co Tipperary | In supporting community projects and commemorating the significant role that mining played in the history of not just Silvermines, but indeed Ireland, SIGA Hydro plans to publish an edited volume of papers related to the Silvermines mining district and the old Magcobar mine site. This volume will include articles from local community historians, from heritage researchers, and Irish geologists who have worked on Silvermines related projects over the years. The work will be completed in partnership with the Silvermines Historical Society with all proceeds after costs going to this not-for-profit group to support mining heritage at Silvermines. |
| Sonairte Ecology Centre and Gardens | Co Meath | With this project the aim is to incorporate informational signage at the entrance of Sonairte, and along the forest trail to educate visitors about the geological importance of the site. These signs will highlight the geological significance of the River Nanny and surrounding areas. The area boasts a variety of biodiversity. The tidal River Nanny, which runs alongside the forest walk, and has its own salt marsh and mudflats which are a special protection area that is home to a wide array of wildlife. |
| Hotwell House -St Gorman's Well | Meath | The aim is to create signage and information leaflets for St. Gorman's warm spring near Enfield, Co. Meath. This site has been studied extensively by scientists from George Victor Du Noyer in the 1800s to present. The warm spring is also a holy well with a unique cultural as well as geological heritage. It is well known locally and also receives curious visitors from around the world. The site will benefit from signage to provide information to local people and the wider public, explaining the importance of our geological heritage, what is known about the spring, and what contributes to the upwelling of artesian warm water. |