Matthew Parkes & Robbie Meehan 

Geological Heritage Audits and their benefit to communities

This talk will use examples from Roscommon and most other counties of Ireland to show both actual and potential benefits to communities through the definition of County Geological Sites in their area. Such benefits range from community pride, increased resources for management, increased tourist visits, improved protection through recognition in planning, and new field-based educational resources through to simply increasing awareness of the critical role geology plays in underpinning society.

Matthew Parkes and Robert Meehan have been involved in most audits of County Geological Sites for the County Heritage Officers and Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) working in partnership. Matthew Parkes is the Geological Curator in the National Museum of Ireland, formerly working in Geological Heritage in GSI. Robert Meehan is an independent Consultant specialising in Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology and Hydrogeology.