Geological Survey of Northern Ireland

23/04/2026

This week, we were privileged to host the recent in-person meeting of the EuroGeoSurveys GeoHeritage Expert Group (GhEG), together with Geological Survey Ireland.

GSNI currently Chairs the GhEG which exists to share knowledge and best practice on the identification, assessment, conservation, and management of geoheritage sites.

The meeting took place in and was facilitated by the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark. Site visits took in numerous Geopark locations including Marble Arch Caves and Cavan Burren Park as well as a sneak preview of the new visitor centre at the Shannon Pot.

08/04/2026

The fourth webinar in the 2026 Northern Ireland Geothermal Webinar Series is taking place on Thursday 23rd April at 16:00 BST.

Prof. Gioia Falcone, Rankine Chair of Energy Engineering at the University of Glasgow will provide an overview of the THERMOCAL project, which aims to systematically acquire a substantial empirical thermogeological data set across the terranes of the Caledonian Orogen, and associated plutons and Precambrian basement, in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Norway.

Register via the Eventbrite link below:

📅 Thursday 23rd April
🕓 16:00-17:00 BST
➡ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1986971036859

20/03/2026

GSNI’s Chief Geologist Prof Mark Cooper helped facilitate a fantastic geology field trip this month for a group of 30 University College Dublin undergraduate students.

The students and academic staff enjoyed a week long fieldtrip, taking in some of Northern Ireland’s most iconic geological sites, including Murlough Bay, Ballintoy, Portrush, the Giant’s Causeway, Larne, and Slieve Gullion.

It’s brilliant to see the next generation of geoscientists exploring our landscapes and learning in the field 🌍🔍

13/03/2026

The third webinar in the 2026 Northern Ireland Geothermal Webinar Series is taking place on Thursday 26th March at 16:00 GMT.

Jeremy Carkner, Senior Project Manager (Sustainability) at the daa will outline Dublin Airport's recent geothermal feasibility study and how ground-source heating and cooling could help cut its Scope 1 emissions.

Register via the Eventbrite link below:

📅 Thursday 26th March
🕓 16:00-17:00 GMT
➡ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1985060169403

14/02/2026

❤️ Happy Valentine’s Day ❤️

NI’s landscape tells a remarkable geological story. From the Dalradian metamorphic rocks of the northwest, to Carboniferous limestones beneath Fermanagh, and the volcanic basalts that formed the Antrim Plateau, our geology records over 600 million years of Earth history.

This heart-shaped rock is a reminder that the processes shaping our planet, erosion, pressure, heat and time, can create features that are both scientifically important and visually striking.

Today we’re celebrating the geology beneath our feet and the natural heritage that makes NI unique.

Photo: Heart-shaped pebble at Minerstown Beach, Co. Down. Composed of Hawick Group (Silurian) siltstone.

11/02/2026

🪨👩‍🔬Women Who Rock 👩‍🔬🪨

Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with the purpose of the day to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls.

Here at GSNI we are proud to now have a gender balanced workforce and NI has historically been unusually progressive for women in geoscience. This quiet but powerful tradition of female participation in geology was established in NI long before it became common elsewhere.

In celebration, we are highlighting some of the female geoscientist trailblazers who are either from NI or who carried out significant research here.

✨ Mary K. Andrews (1851–1914) was an Irish geologist born in Belfast and, notable as one of the first women to be active in this area. She was active in several fields of geology but is probably best known for her work on The Early History of Magnetism and on the D***s in Antrim and Down. She was Honorary Secretary of the geological section of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club (BNFC) after its establishment in 1893. Andrews was one of twelve women who presented papers at the women's section of the geological congress, as a part of the World's Congress Auxiliary of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, in August 1893.

Mary was an international collector and a curator of geological specimens for the BNFC, a photographer of landscapes and specimens, a researcher, concerned with conservation of geological heritage, and a good communicator. Most of her specimens are now held in the collections at National Museums Northern Ireland.

🌋 Doris Reynolds (1899–1985) was a highly influential British geologist who made significant contributions to the geology of NI and Ireland more broadly. She is best known for her work in petrology and geochemical processes, and for being one of the earliest women recognised at high levels in the geological sciences. Doris developed the theory of “granitisation” in the 1940s based on research on the Newry Igneous Complex. At the time, this revolutionised the understanding of how granite forms in the Earth’s crust. While later shown to be incorrect, it stimulated important research and debate in petrology.

She was the first woman elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1949, a significant milestone for women in geoscience and was awarded the Lyell Medal by the Geological Society of London in 1960 for her geological contributions

𖢻 Kathleen Lonsdale (1903–1971) was an Irish crystallographer whose pioneering work on crystallography and mineral structure greatly influenced our understanding of basalt and silicate mineral structures, directly relevant to the Antrim Lava Group. Her work underpins modern mineralogical interpretation of igneous rocks found across NI.

During her career she attained several firsts for female scientists, including being one of the first two women elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1945, first female professor at University College London, first woman president of the International Union of Crystallography, and first woman president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

10/02/2026

🪨🌋 Half-Term Adventures: Discover NI’s Geological Heritage! 🌋🪨

Looking for things to do this half term? NI’s landscapes are the perfect outdoor classroom. From the volcanic basalts of the Giant’s Causeway to the limestone caves of Fermanagh and the ancient rocks of the Sperrins, our geology tells a story over 600 million years in the making.

Why not:
🔍 Explore a local geosite or coastal walk
🗺️ Visit a Global Geopark or heritage centre
📸 Spot rock layers, fossils or volcanic features
🌿 Learn how geology shapes our scenery, soils and wildlife

Get outside, get curious, and discover the science beneath your feet this half term!



Photo 1 – Volcanoes & Lava
Walk across ancient lava flows at the Giant’s Causeway and Antrim Plateau, formed by volcanic eruptions around 60 million years ago.

Photo 2 – Rocks Older Than Dinosaurs
The Sperrins and northwest contain some of NI’s oldest rocks, created deep underground and transformed by heat and pressure.

Photo 3 – Caves, Fossils & Limestone
Explore the limestone landscapes of Fermanagh, where fossils, caves and underground rivers tell the story of ancient tropical seas.

Photo 4 – Coastlines in Action
From dramatic cliffs to sandy beaches, waves and weather continue to shape our coastline every day.

The Giant's Causeway Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark Marble Arch Caves Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust Ulster Museum, Belfast W5 Belfast

09/02/2026

🎥 WEBINAR - Does Groundwater Matter at All? 💧

Our Hydrogeologist, Paul Wilson, will be delivering a webinar for the Ballinderry Rivers Trust tomorrow at 7pm on the importance of groundwater and its connection to rivers and ecosystems.

➡️ Register here: a355cd52-4f74-4623-bfc2-b1f8a8746ee9@2124c330-686b-4a9d-a2a7-67279f2afdf2?fbclid=IwY2xjawP23T5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe_kxtR-CswqKlkU5hnbQ2-caJfhPxoIQSUbTFTZb2w38h-aqLPVLnyl-67yo_aem_sneh2_t9uZrJ-_ljxb_5kQ" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a355cd52-4f74-4623-bfc2-b1f8a8746ee9@2124c330-686b-4a9d-a2a7-67279f2afdf2?fbclid=IwY2xjawP23T5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe_kxtR-CswqKlkU5hnbQ2-caJfhPxoIQSUbTFTZb2w38h-aqLPVLnyl-67yo_aem_sneh2_t9uZrJ-_ljxb_5kQ

💧 Does Groundwater Matter at All? 🌍
Ever wondered what’s going on beneath our feet — and why it matters?
Join Ballinderry Rivers Trust for a relaxed and informative online talk with Paul Wilson, Hydrogeologist from the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland.
Paul will shine a light on groundwater, its connection to rivers and ecosystems, and why this hidden resource is more important than you might think.
📅 Tuesday 10th February
⏰ 7:00pm
💻 Online via Microsoft Teams
👉 Register here: a355cd52-4f74-4623-bfc2-b1f8a8746ee9@2124c330-686b-4a9d-a2a7-67279f2afdf2" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a355cd52-4f74-4623-bfc2-b1f8a8746ee9@2124c330-686b-4a9d-a2a7-67279f2afdf2
All welcome!

06/02/2026

We were delighted to be able to represent British Geological Survey at the recent EuroGeoSurveys Expert Group Chairs meeting and National Delegates Forum.

GSNI's Science Programme Manager, Kirstin Lemon, is the Chairperson of the Geoheritage Expert Group (GhEG). This is a specialised team of experts from national geological surveys across Europe focused on the identification, documentation, and sustainable management of Europe's geological heritage.

GSNI's position as Chair of the GhEG highlights NI's leading role in geoheritage, not just nationally but also internationally.

Our 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 is our strength, and this week in Brussels moves us another step forward in how Europe organises, shares, and advances its geological knowledge.

We are delighted to welcome the EGDI Editorial Board, Expert Group Chairs, and National Delegates for a full programme of meetings, discussions, and exchanges. 🤝

It is a pleasure to bring together colleagues from across our 37 member organisations, aligning perspectives and priorities as we continue to deliver pan-European geoscience data and advice. 🌍

04/02/2026

The second webinar in the 2026 Northern Ireland Geothermal Webinar Series is taking place on Thursday 19th February at 16:00 GMT.

Ryan Daly, Director at DALY Renewables will outline the wide-ranging opportunities geothermal technology offers for Northern Ireland’s future energy mix, and how it could become a central pillar of sustainable infrastructure across the region.

Register via the Eventbrite link below:

📅 Thursday 19th February
🕓 16:00-17:00 GMT
➡ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982183766003