​The Annual Geoparks Forum is facilitated by the Irish UNESCO Global Geoparks Committee and is being hosted by the Joyce Country & Western Lakes (JC&WL) aspiring geopark.

Programme:

Thursday 7 February

(Lunch available in Hotel)

1:00 Welcome & Introductions (GSI, GSNI, JC&WL)

1:15 Presentations (Chairs: Kirstin Lemon, GSNI, Chair IUGGC and Sarah Gatley, GSI, V-Chair IUGGC)

1:15 UNESCO Global Geoparks Overview (Kirstin Lemon, UNESCO Global Geoparks Council)

1:45 Financial models in UNESCO Global Geoparks (Sarah Gatley, Vice Chair IUGGC)

2:00 – 2:30 Tea/Coffee

2:30 – 4:30 Workshops - Financial models in the Irish UNESCO Global Geoparks (facilitated by the three UNESCO Global Geoparks)

1. Marble Arch Caves (MAC)
2. Copper Coast (CCG)
3. Burren & Cliffs of Moher (BCoM)
4. Atlantic Geoparks Project/Interreg Atlantic Area (CCG/MAC/BCoM)  

4:30 – 5:00 Q&A/Discussion

7:30 Dinner in Hotel 

Address by Minister Seán Canney TD
(Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resource and Digital Development)
Announcement of GSI Geopark/Geoheritage Grant Awards 2019 

Friday 8 February

07:30 Breakfast in Hotel

9:20 Short updates - 3 Irish UNESCO Global Geoparks (Chairs: Kirstin Lemon, Sarah Gatley)

9:30 Copper Coast (Robbie Galvin, Geologist)

9:45 Marble Arch Caves (tbc)

10:00 Burren & Cliffs of Moher (Tim Madden, Manager)

10:15 – 10:35 Tea/Coffee

10:35 Short Updates - Irish aspiring geoparks (Chair: Siobhán Power, GSI)

10:45 Joyce Country & Western Lakes

11:00 Mourne Gullion Strangford (Michelle Boyle, Tourist Development Officer, NMDDC)

11:15 Causeway Coast (Nikki Maguire)

11:30 West Beara (tbc)

11:45 Updates on UNESCO Application/Revalidation process and concluding discussion

12:30 Assemble for Coach, collect packed lunch - Field trip – Joyce Country & Western Lakes

3:00 – 3:15 END at Peacockes Hotel

Download Programme. 

All welcome. 

There is a special rate with Peacockes Hotel for Dinner/B&B on Thursday night: Single Rate €94, Double/Twin €129. Please book directly with Peacockes Hotel (Phone: 091 552 306, saying you are attending the Geoparks Forum) and register with Sarah Gatley at sarah.gatley@gsi.ie with the following details: