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Previously Awarded Geoheritage Grants

​​Geoheritage grants are awarded to support the development and sustainability of Ireland's geoheritage through community-driven geoscience outreach initiatives, including education, geotourism and geoheritage related site preparation, to promote economic growth. Take a look at some of the successful applications from previous years here.



 
2022/23 Grant Awards
Castlecomer Discovery Park
​Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark
Joyce Country and Western Lakes Aspiring Geopark
Bioregional Weaving Lab
St John's old Cemetary Restoration Group

​Burren Cliffs Of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark



2021/22 Grant Awards
​Irish Iron Heritage Foundation CLG
​Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark
Joyce Country and Western Lakes Aspiring Geopark
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Listoonvarna Historical Society

​Slieveardagh Mining Group

Historic Graves Project


2020/21 Grant Awards
Valentia Island Interpreted Geoheritage Tour, Viewpoint and Poster
​Geological Heritage of the Copper Coast, Increasing the Focus
Woolly Mammoth to Tell the Geological Story
Slieve League Project
Poetry Map to Reflect a Unique Geoheritage

Geology in the City (Cork)


Geological Survey Ireland has awarded Geoheritage grants to nineteen 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 groups throughout the country.




2022-2023, Castlecomer Discovery Park

Castlecomer Discovery Park in Co. Kilkenny produced an online-linked geology trail to showcase the geoheritage of the Castlecomer Discovery Park and the geology of the Castlecomer area. The geoheritage highlights include the coal mining heritage and the discovery of rare carboniferous amphibian fossils in 1864. A geological map of the Castlecomer area was created, which is now present on the trail guides and was provided to schools taking the new geology session. The trail aims to promote the geoheritage to schools and the public both within the local area, and the larger catchment of Castlecomer Discovery Park (including Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Waterford and Dublin).



2022-2023, Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark

The geopark created a new generation of geoheritage trails, focused on the geoheritage and historic mining sites at areas such as Tankardstown Engine house, Ballydowane Cove and Annestown Beach. The information will be printed and posted online. Each geoheritage map will contain points of interest and feature information about the geological heritage of specific areas as well as general information about the area's geology. The maps will be suitable for users to walk or cycle through quiet roads and off-road sections to discover outcrops and other sites of geological interest as they go along.




2022-2023, Joyce Country & Western Lakes UNESCO Global Geopark
The aspiring geopark produced an animated video to tell the story of the karst landscape development that takes place over centuries to millennia. The video focuses on the karst landscape of the Western Lakes (Loughs Carra, Mask and Corrib) that has developed in the lower carboniferous limestone and the karstic features to be found there including the Cong Iisthmus area with the Cong Canal development, the Lough Mask shore epikarst feature and the Lough Carra marl lake processes.



2022-2023, Bioregional Weaving Lab
The project generated a digital map that captures the essence of both the geological heritage of the landscape and the communities living in the area of the Copper Coast and surrounding areas of Co. Waterford. The adjacent image if from Peter Cook, City Landscapes.



2022-2023, St John's Old Cemetary Restoration Group
In a restored eighteenth-century church, now the Nobber Heritage Centre, this small community-based group tell the area's geological story using locally sourced rock and fossil specimens which are housed in display cabinets. Display panels detail various aspects of the local geoheritage including the Kingscourt half-graben, gypsum mines, karst, and drumlin belt Quaternary landscape. The display now has an audio-visual component including drone-captured video of the landscape and some of the more important geological sites.


2022-2023, Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark
This project was to design and produce a series of short animations that graphically tell the story of the geological history of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark including the formation of the Burren limestone, the sandstone and shale of the Cliffs of Moher, fossils in the Geopark, the plate tectonic journey and the Ice Age. These stories connect the geological processes with the local landscape and promote geoheritage awareness among all age groups and to a wide-reaching audience.      

202​1-2022, Irish Iron Heritage Foundation CLG

​​An open-air museum was established during the International Furnace Festival in August with permanent objects and information panels on the past extraction and smelting of local iron ore with special focus given to the local siderite and its relation to the geology of the Burren.

2021-2022, Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark

​This project focused on the digitisation, assessment and presentation of threats to the Copper Coast Geopark geoheritage using novel geotechnical monitoring tools and resulted in a digital, virtual geoheritage tour of Copper Coast Geopark sites.

​2021-2022, Joyce Country and Western Lakes Aspiring Geopark

This project focused on the development of a geotrail on the Mám Éan section of the Western Way in Conemara, Co. Galway. The work on this trail is ongoing with signage to be in place in early 2023. The geological setting, in particular the Dalradian rock exposures over the Maumturk range, will act as a focus point towards possible future integration of the Western Way in the International Appalachian Trail.

​2021-2022, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

The project delivered the story of local geoheritage by generating county specific, highly graphic maps, infographics and imagery along with professionally scripted interpretive content to maximise impact of the communications in print, in person and online. The project also oversaw the successful completion of two geoheritage walks, with popular demand leading to the expansion of the series of planned walks in 2023.

​​​2021-2022, Lisdoonvarna Historical Society

The project focused on the construction of a pillar-sculpture depicting the local geological stratigraphy and providing a clear visual and tactile structure demonstrating the main geological features of the Lisdoonvarna area. Furthermore, the link between the original spring wells of Lisdoonvarna and local geology was highlighted, adding to local awareness of geoheritage understanding, and promoting the value of this aspect to the town, and its geotourism. Unfortunately the project was delayed and it is anticipated that construction and installation will be completed in early 2023.

2021-2022, Slieveardagh Mining Group

A geoheritage map of coal mining in Slieveardagh was produced based on the geology and coal mining heritage of the area and a collection of stories from the mines told by miners. This map was given to local schools, libraries and community groups and further enhance local abilities to tell the story of The Slieveardagh Coalfield.

2021-2022, Historic Graves Project

The project focused on building the heritage of historic graveyards into their geoheritage context, identifying where possible, quarry locations matching different phases of building construction from the early medieval period onwards. This was a collaboration with community-focussed geologists to delve into the geoheritage of historic graveyards.


 

2020-2021, Valentia Island Interpreted Geoheritage Tour, Viewpoint and Poster

Valentia Island Geoheritage Association (VIGA) is a not-for-profit organization, one of whose aims is to promote Valentia Island's geoheritage and geotourism, in tandem with developing sustainable employment and enterprise on Valentia Island and surrounding areas in Co. Kerry. The Island is home to the world-renowned Devonian tetrapod trackways which showcase one of the earliest traces of land-dwelling vertebrates (amphibians). VIGA seek to promote both the tetrapod trackway and the Valentia Slate Quarry by developing a geotour of these locations highlighting their unique geology. Other initiatives include a promotional poster of Valentia Island geology, a 1-inch geologic map of the Island and Valentia slate coasters with engraved tetrapod footprints. Additionally, the design of a geological lookout point at Valentia Slate Quarry with a dramatic, free standing, slate monolith and interpretative panels highlighting the area's geological history are also proposed. Website coming soon!



 

2020-2021, Geological Heritage of the Copper Coast, Increasing the Focus

​Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark in Co. Waterford showcases the area's geology and mining heritage. They aim to review and then rejuvenate the existing geoheritage and geology exhibition of the Copper Coast Geopark Visitor Centre. It is proposed to rewrite, redesign, and reprint all panels within the exhibition with a more geologically engaging and up to date format, with separated zones of interest for visitors. Their intention is to increase the geoheritage educational value of the exhibition which will be a significant resource for outreach, primary and secondary schools, and children both in the local area and further afield.



 

2020-2021, Woolly Mammoth to Tell the Geological Story

​PROJECT Belturbet is a community group in Belturbet, Co. Cavan who seek to develop their town and its environs. To promote the area's geoheritage, they propose to build a life size model of a woolly mammoth on Turbet Island as part of the existing Dreamscapes Trail. Woolly mammoth remnants were discovered on Turbet Island making it an ideal location to highlight the Island's Ice Age past. The woolly mammoth model and associated geological information will act as a focal point for tourists, schools and colleges to visit and learn about the rich geological history of the area.



 

2020-2021, Slieve League Project

​Oideas Gael are located in southwest Donegal. They seek to raise awareness of the Sliabh Liag peninsula as an area of geological and geomorphological significance by increasing local knowledge of the geology of the area and the geological processes responsible for the formation of the modern landscape. Oideas Gael aims to promote geotourism and geoheritage by creating and delivering educational programs by combining geology within a wider cultural heritage context, for example, exploring the local archaeology, folklore, place names and the geological connections with Scotland and North America. Find more information here.



 

2020-2021, Poetry Map to Reflect a Unique Geoheritage

The Cuilcagh Lakelands (formerly Marble Arch Caves) UNESCO Global Geopark is a cross border geopark located in counties Cavan and Fermanagh. The aim of their project was to create an online poetry map linking specific sites around the Geopark, with each having their own poem reflecting the unique geoheritage and geology of that site. They engaged with both new and established poets by commissioning them to write a site-specific poem that would be inspired by the geology of a particular location within the geopark, and there was also engagement with local schools to help pupils to create their own poems about the local landscape and geoheritage. The online Poetry Map was launched on UNESCO World Poetry Day on the 21st March 2022, and can be found here.



2020-2021, Geology in the City (Cork)

The goal of this project was to link the archaeological and historical built heritage of Cork City to its geology of Devonian sandstones, Carboniferous limestones and Quaternary sands and gravels. In doing so, it can make Cork's geoheritage accessible and engaging to local people. The project used online innovations, geology walking trails, a virtual exhibition and schools outreach to link Cork City's historical heritage to its geology. Follow the website as it develops.