Geological
Survey Ireland offers a number of small grants each year to support the
sustainable development, promotion and recognition of Ireland's geoheritage.
These grants are aimed at local community-driven outreach and
development initiatives with a geoheritage theme. The grants are made
through an open competitive
application process.
Geoheritage Grant Scheme 2021/22
Information on the successful Geoheritage Grant projects for 2021/22 can be found here.
Supporting 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.
The grant aid is aimed at supporting small community-driven geoheritage initiatives to assist:
- the delivery of public outreach, educational and geotourism activities to promote the geoheritage of an area; or
- the delivery of required educational and geotourism activities to help aspiring projects to develop as de facto geoparks; or
- the delivery of required educational and geotourism activities, for example helping UNESCO Global Geoparks maintain their UNESCO Global Network status.
Suitable projects could be the publication of a popular book, map or flyer; trail or signage installation; geoheritage related site preparation; product launch, innovative media concepts, online content, etc., that promotes the geology/geoheritage of the area.
Applications should be cognizant of the definition of geoheritage "It is the abbreviated version of the term geological heritage. It is part of the natural heritage of a certain area constituted by geodiversity elements with particular geological value and hence worthy of safeguard for the benefit of present and future generations. Geoheritage can include both in situ elements (geosites) or ex situ elements (collections of geological specimens) with paleontological, geomorphological, mineralogical, petrological or stratigraphical significance, among others."; ProGeo (the European association for the conservation of the geological heritage)
For information relating to the 2021/2022 Geoheritage Grant Application Process (Download here)
Further information on the projects that have previously received funding through the Geoheritage Grant scheme can be found here.