Geological Survey Ireland offers a number of small grants each year to support the sustainable development, promotion and recognition of Ireland's geoheritage. These grants are aimed at local community-driven outreach and development initiatives with a geoheritage theme. The grants are made through an open competitive application process.
The Geoheritage Grant Scheme for 2027 will open in Quarter 4 of 2026. Geological Survey Ireland will invite applications up to a maximum of €10,000 per project. This grant fund is available to support small community based geoheritage initiatives in the Republic of Ireland.
With the 2026 grant funding, Geological Survey Ireland has awarded Geoheritage grants to six community-based projects around the country. These grants will support the development and publication of educational and outreach materials by local groups, established geotourism sites, aspiring geoparks and UNESCO Global Geoparks. The aim of the fund is to encourage the telling of the Irish geological story, improve the understanding of geoscience, and to engage with groups throughout the country.
Below you will find details about the 2026 projects. Past projects funded by Geological Survey Ireland can be found here.
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 | Burrenbeo Trust - Connecting People and Place
This project will deliver high-quality geoheritage interpretation as a central feature of Burrenbeo’s annual events (Burren in Bloom and Winterage Weekend). - Embed geoheritage themes across monthly walks and talks, with new leaders and speakers supported by this funding
- Provide engaging geoheritage learning experiences for schoolchildren through the Calf and Cuckoo Schools Programme, including in-school and fieldtrip components
- Share geoheritage resources and inspire community action through the Heritage Keepers initiative
- Build awareness of the Burren’s geological foundations as the basis of its biodiversity, agriculture, and culture, including through the new geoheritage focused exhibition
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| Copper Coast UNESCO Global GeoparkThis is a three-part project designed to improve the Geopark’s geology and mining heritage exhibition labelling, ensure that external signage meets revalidation standards and increase the overall engagement and child friendliness of the Geopark exhibition. |
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Joyce Country and Western Lakes UNESCO Global GeoparkThis project aims to survey in detail the 380x30 m area of limestone pavement accessible on the shores of Lough Mask in the Coillte lands at Clonbur, and place a people counter on the access route to assess the visitor impact on the site and develop future management plans to protect it. The information from these surveys will complement the data sourced from the purchase and installation of a people counter for the narrow trail leading to the site. This is a site of geological heritage that is anecdotally under threat from negative visitor impacts and poor management. Assessment of this site to address these issues is a key component of the UNESCO status of the geopark and future revalidations.
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 | Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark
This project will deliver printed educational material in the form of image-strong A1 posters and a work book on geology and geoheritage within the geopark. The educational material will be focussed at primary schools and will contribute to the revalidation recommendations from UNESCO for the geopark and its next revalidation. |
| Irish Bloomery Iron ltd. - Furnace Festivals in UNESCO Geopark Communities
This project will deliver iron smelting and forging demonstrations at every UNESCO Global Geopark on the island of Ireland; Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark, Copper Coast Geopark, Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark, Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark and The Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, highlighting local iron heritage and the traditional process of forming useful iron objects from Irish iron ore. It will include an assessment of potenital local iron sources that would have been available to prehistoric people in Ireland.
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 | Geotreks, Clare Island - Walking Through Time
With this project, a geodiversity walking trail will be developed on Clare Island with the support and engagement of the local communities. The project “Walking Through Time” will provide the following deliverables: - Free Publication - A4 folded flyer
- Trail and signage - A total of fourteen (14) geological Augmented Reality viewing points (deployed as fixed QR bearing posts)
- Digital products - Interactive AR video, audio and text online content
- Educational events - Quarterly secondary and national school (6th Class) school trips with guide
- Community launch - quarterly public access workshops with guide
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