​On Tuesday, 21 February, staff from Geological Survey Ireland attended and presented at iCRAG's workshop - The Future of Ireland's Peatlands: Science, Engineering & a Just Transition in Abbeyleix, Co Laois. The event was attended by over 140 participants from a broad range of sectors including state, semi-state, commercial, and research bodies. The objectives of the workshop were to learn about the broad range of research currently being conducted by iCRAG concerning Ireland's peatlands, some of which uses Geological Survey Ireland data, and to participate in a network forum bringing researchers, industry, and state agencies together to prioritise research directions.

The keynote address "The Future and Challenges Faced in Peatland Conservation and Restoration in Ireland" was delivered by Dr Shane Regan of the National Parks and Wildlife Service who currently works with staff from Geological Survey Ireland on a collaborative project, led by Geological Survey Ireland, assessing the conditioning and triggering factors for three peatland failures in 2020. Koen Verbruggen, Director of Geological Survey Ireland delivered a talk on Just Transition Activities and Charise McKeon co-presented with Tom Clayton of Fehily, Timoney & Co. on the collaborative Landslides project with NPWS.

The workshop covered a broad range of topics including Restoration and Climate: Characterisations of Peatlands, Monitoring of Ireland's Peatlands, Just Transition and Ireland's Peatlands and Post-peat land use: Geohazard and Geo-Engineering considerations areas which have particular relevance to multiple programme areas in Geological Survey Ireland and DECC.

iCRAG is the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre in Applied Geosciences, supported by Geological Survey Ireland/Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, and industry partners. 

 Image: Failure at Shass mountain in 2020.