Geological Survey Ireland welcomes new UNESCO Global Geopark in Galway and Mayo
- Published on: 9 September 2025
- Last updated on: 6 October 2025
Number of geoparks on the island of Ireland now stands at 5
Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark, in Connemara / north Galway and south Mayo has been granted UNESCO Global Geopark Status, following a decision on their application taken at the 10th UNESCO Geoparks Council meeting in Temuco, Chile, on 5 September 2025. This decision will be ratified at the UNESCO Executive Board meeting in Paris in the Spring of 2026. The new Geopark will bring the number of UNESCO Geoparks on the island of Ireland to five.
Initially a purely voluntary local effort to increase tourism in the area based on the important geology, landscape, and related traditions and culture, started in the early 2000s, the project to develop a full UNESCO Global Geopark was enhanced in 2019 with the successful application for €1.19 million from the Rural and Regional Development Funds (RRFD), from the then Department of Rural and Community Development and the increased collaboration with Údarás na Gaeltachta, Geological Survey Ireland, Galway County Council, and Mayo County Council, and the employment of project officers and structured support from the local communities.
The geopark opens a window on geology, heritage and culture – ancient and current and everything in between – for locals and visitors alike. This geopark was awarded its status based on its 700-million-year geological history, and it being an ideal cross-section of the Grampian-Taconic orogeny (the mountain-building event over 400 million years ago at the closing of the Iapetus Ocean and the formation of the Caledonian and Appalachian mountains), for the teaching and research of this globally significant event.
Koen Verbruggen, Director of Geological Survey Ireland, welcomed the announcement and commented:
"The Geological Survey has been working alongside the local team developing the Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark for many years, but in particular since 2019 with grant funding from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in the Department of Rural and Community Development (part of Project Ireland 2040). Geological Survey Ireland in particular, supports the promotion of the understanding and appreciation of the geology of the area as the cornerstone of the geopark and its activities. I would like to congratulate the geopark team and all of the key partners, and in particular the people of the Joyce Country and Western Lakes area of Galway and Mayo for reaching this important milestone."
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
UNESCO Global Geopark status adds no further planning regulations to those already in place by EU, national or local government. UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. Their bottom-up approach of combining conservation with sustainable development while involving local communities is becoming increasingly popular. At present, there are 229 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 50 countries.
Geological Survey Ireland
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 Climate, Energy and the Environment.
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 can be found on the Geological Survey Ireland website.
Geological Survey Ireland provides a Duty Geologist service to the public to address geological queries and concerns. For more information, please visit: www.gsi.ie.