Twenty three counties (including the four Dublin local authority areas) and Galway City local authority area are now complete and the reports are available.

The geological heritage of Ireland is considered and evaluated within an overall framework of 16 themes. Each theme considers specific aspects, such as stratigraphy, sedimentology, structural geology, volcanic rocks, etc. and addresses all aspects of the particular geology involved, but some sites may be considered within two or more themes.

The Geoheritage Programme is overseeing a long project to audit all sites of geological heritage importance in Ireland.  Just over two-thirds of the local authority areas are now complete and the remaining areas will be audited in the coming years.  Audits take place in partnership with the local authority and the Heritage Council of Ireland.

If you're looking to find out about what it means to have a CGS near you, for planning purposes or simply because you're interested in your local geoheritage, this is the place for you. To see if there's a CGS near you, take a look on our webviewer, under the Geoheritage tab.

Geological Heritage is valued as a part of our national, natural heritage and it is our duty and function to protect sites of geological importance and to promote them so that people realise their importance and are encouraged to protect and promote them further. Under the Geoheritage programme at Geological Survey Ireland and based on 16 themes, sites have been identified in each county as County Geological Sites. These sites are of national and, in some cases, international importance. In most countries, the sites are listed in the County Development Plan, particularly if the Geological Heritage County Audit has taken place.

ProGEO is the European Association for the Conservation of the Geological Heritage, with Ireland represented in the Northern Europe Group by Geological Survey Ireland.

ProGEO has a range of objectives that aim to promote the conservation of Europe's geological heritage sites. These objectives look to engage members of the public, Geoheritage workers and policy makers, in an integrated approach to nature conservation, creating an international network to exchange ideas and encourage best practice in Geoheritage conservation.

Our aims in the protection and promotion of Geoheritage sites in Ireland draw from these ProGeo objectives.