Geopark Academy 2025
Burren College of Art, May 24th
Schedule of Speakers:
09.30 – 09.45: Welcome and Introduction
09.45 – 10.15: John Sims – “The amazing story of BT Young Scientists in Lisdoonvarna.”
10.15 – 10.35: Students of Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna and BTYS
award winners:
Oisín Jackson – “Rainfall and water levels in turloughs in the Burren”
Anna Mae O’Driscoll – “Does the limestone in the Burren keep it as warm as people say”
Béibhinn O’Loughlin – “Looking for tiny fossils hidden in the Burren limestone”
10.35- 11.00: Dr. Eamon Doyle (Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark) –
“Newly discovered unusual fossil sharks from the Carboniferous rocks of County Clare”
11 – 11.30: COFFEE BREAK
11.30 – 12.00: Declan Kelleher – “Logainmneacha Chill Iníne Baoith” As Gaeilge agus
Bearla
12.00 – 12.30: James Organ – “Birds of the Corofin Wetlands”
12.30 – 13.00: Phoebe Larkin (Burren National Park NPWS) “New studies on bryophytes,
dung beetles and spiders in the Burren National Park.”
13.00 – 13.45: LUNCH BREAK
13.45 – 14.15: Elaine Lynch (Field Monument Advisor, County Clare) – “Recent results from
the burials at the enclosure in Ballyganner North and the preliminary results of the
excavation of a herdsman house in Fahee North’”
14.15 – 14.45: Katherine Doe (Final year student, University of Galway) – “Fascinating fossil
conodonts from the Clare Shale Formation.”
15.00 – 15.30: Dr. Gordon Bromley (University of Galway) – “Reconstructing the impact of
abrupt climate change in the Burren”
15.30 – 15.45: Q&A/Short break
15.45 – 16.15: Daithi Ó Drónaí – “Sounds of the Burren – Using your own culture to make
better art “
16.15 – 16.45: Jenni McGuire (Coole Park NPWS)- “An introduction to lichens in the Burren
– A sneak preview of a new NPWS Burren lichens booklet”
16.45 – 17.00: Q & A and closing comments.
The Geopark Academy is a new annual initiative to promote learning and the dissemination of new research within the Geopark. Invited guest speakers give presentations on new research of relevance to the Geopark area. Our inaugural Geopark Academy was in Kilfenora in 2023 and this was followed by our 2024 Geopark Academy in the Burren College of Art, Ballyvaughan. This year we will return to the Burren college of Art on May 24th. On Sunday 25th there will be a field trip led by Burren National Park.
There is no cost to attend but booking is essential, please contact info@burrengeopark.ie
Here is a link to our YouTube channel with videos from the Geopark Academy 2023