TIONSCADAL GEOPHÁIRC Dhúiche Sheoigheach & Lochanna an Iarthair JOYCE COUNTRY & WESTERN LAKES GEOPARK PROJECT 1 UNESCO in Our Whispering Landscape CONFERENCE | 15 & 16 JUNE 2021 **SAVE THE DATE** THERE’S SOMETHING FOR ALL STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS A major virtual conference is being In normal times it would be a large, blended longer term. The Joyce Country and Western organised by the Joyce Country & conference with in-person and virtual Lakes area of Mayo and Galway is worthy Western Lakes Geopark Project for contributions. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 of UNESCO Global Geopark status due to its Tuesday-Wednesday 15th & 16th June. uncertainty, we are opting for a virtual event, geology of international importance. UNESCO Themed as UNESCO in Our Whispering as in the advert above. While meeting, Global Geoparks (created in 2015) have Landscape, the conference will open a greeting and viewing online has some equal status to UNESCO World Heritage Sites window on UNESCO Global Geoparks’ limitations, it also comes with advantages – (created in 1972). They are both powerful contributions to sustainable development, more guest speakers from around the world branding tools but the advantage of the and how communities can benefit from and the island of Ireland, more people can UNESCO Global Geoparks is that they carry more locally generated jobs and business. tune in and it also creates a legacy. Exhibition no additional planning restrictions. It will also showcase the rich heritage space and workshops are also planned. in this JCWL geopark region, providing More detail about the conference models and ideas for cultural Just to re-emphasise, this project’s key aim follows soon via social media development, geotourism and is to achieve UNESCO Global Geopark status @JCWLGeopark and the project website networking. to benefit communities in the region in the www.joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie 8 Tuesday January 19, 2021 The Connaught Telegraph www.con-telegraph.ie www.con-telegraph.ie The Connaught Telegraph Tuesday January 19, 2021 9 FEATURE FEATURE development of start-ups local heritage, and a range and business networks, of educational resources are Hikers enjoying a walk near food trails, accommodation, being developed. Finny / JCWL Geopark Project promotion of the unique traditions and ways of living The idea encourages visitors such as hill farming and to explore the great outdoors, fishing. After 10 years of the national walking trails dedicated voluntary effort of the region (including the and community consultation, Galway and Mayo sections the project and its longer-term of the Western Way, the structure can be a real boost as Seanbhóthar and parts of we look towards post-COVID the Tóchar Phádraig) and times. It will stimulate local is a member of Leave No jobs and income to help our Trace. As such, it promotes 2 communities survive and a collaborative and sensitive thrive. approach to highlighting local heritage while respecting the WHAT TO SEE AND DO rights of landowners and all The Joyce Country and others in the region. Western Lakes region now has a brand – a striking “The geopark has great new logo has been created potential to complement Killary Fjord from Sheep herding Tourmakeady, with Lough Mask in (see image in advert). The other tourism initiatives in Leenane on the Wild background / JCWL Geopark Project attractive new website www. Mayo, such as around Moore Atlantic Way / JCWL joycecountrygeoparkproject.ie Hall and various cycling and Geopark Project is a rich archive of information walking trails, to stimulate job about sites of interest and our creation and new business,” towns and villages – in English, Cllr Al McDonnell said. “It Irish and will soon expand also shows the benefits of with other languages. good collaboration with our neighbours in Galway and The ‘what to do’ section with other development has a great range of activities agencies such as Údarás na and attractions including Gaeltachta and Geological walks, hikes and national Survey Ireland.” trails, angling, options for food and accommodation, and a So here it is, Guth na talún slick interactive map to help ... a great opportunity to Wooded walks around Moore Hall you with orientation. Other learn what’s beneath our feet and its walled garden / clickable menus have easily and explore our whispering photo: Mayo County Council digestible detail such as the landscape. Guth na Talún - Explore our whispering landscape in Joyce Country & Western Lakes region landscape. Instinctively, we outstanding geology of Killawalla and Tourmakeady Add in the fantastic by hundreds of millions of like to know where we came international significance. So in the north to Headford, beauty of the Maumturks, years of geological processes from, what was there before, significant that this geopark Oughterard, Lough Inagh Maumtrasna and the Partry interacting with other forms where’s it all going. Such project (see box) is preparing and Leenane to the south Mountains, glaciated lakes of the natural world and, in curiosity is not just about our the way for an application to and west. Beneath our feet and meandering rivers, and much more recent times, the own place of living, but also UNESCO for Global Geopark there’s: stunning karst landscapes to human world. It’s promoting when we read about and visit status. < a rock record of the rival parts of the Burren, and use of the Irish language for other places. So let’s take a opening and closing of the much more. education, business and look at how this applies to It’s why the ambitious Iapetus Ocean hundreds leisure, reminding us of our wider backyard – and Joyce Country and Western of millions of years ago, Clonbur, Corr na Móna, the rich connection to the how it can be part of a great Lakes Geopark Project is including the world-famous Maam, Leenane, Cong, landscape. opportunity to improve now helping showcase to our Connemara Marble Ballinrobe, Ballintubber, livelihoods. communities and the rest < part of a geological story Carnacon and The Neale are Telling the stories of the MICHAEL HEGARTY of Ireland, Europe and the stretching from Norway to just a few of the 18 villages geological and cultural OUTSTANDING GEOLOGY world just how special our the southern USA and towns with fantastic heritage of the region creates Many readers will know place is ... and how we can < the only fjord in Ireland culture and heritage to potential tourism markets ow well do of Joyce Country, but might share some of it sustainably at Killary explore. to attract people who are you know your not be aware that the wider for the benefit of locals and < one of the fastest flowing willing to spend time in backyard, or region – on the Galway-Mayo visitors alike. spring complexes in the The project is informing, the geopark, to linger and Hgarden? Do we border, the area both sides world at Cong showing and educating locals absorb rather than drive have any idea how that of Loughs Carra, Mask and Here’s just a little of < Lough Carra as one of the and potential visitors about through. This encourages ridge, hill or mountain you the Corrib and touching what’s in the area, which most significant marl lakes in how our landscape and the spending on local services see out the window came the Wild Atlantic Way – has stretches from Ballintubber, Europe way we live has been shaped rather than mass tourism, about and why they look like that? Just how and when did all the lakes around Multiple agencies ... and a global trend us – large and small, deep and shallow – emerge and The Joyce Country and Western Lakes ( JCWL) from Geological Survey Ireland (lead partner), in place by local, national or EU legislation. The will they always be there? Geopark Project (Tionscadal Geopháirc Údarás na Gaeltachta, Galway and Mayo County UNESCO status is not automatically retained And how has our fantastic Dhúiche Sheoigheach agus Lochanna an Councils, Coillte, Fáilte Ireland and a cross-com- – it needs to be revalidated every four years landform history inspired Iarthair) 2020-2021 is a €1.19 million initiative munity group JCWL GeoEnterprise. through an assessment process. and shaped our lives and the promoting sustainable development. Support- There are now 161 UNESCO Global Geoparks way we live? ed mainly by the Rural Regeneration and Devel- in 44 countries ... and growing. UNESCO Global opment Fund (Project Ireland 2040), it also Geopark status carries no additional legal Michael Hegarty is the Geopark Manager with Joyce That’s just a sprinkling of has significant financial and in-kind support status or planning restrictions to those already Country and Western Lakes Geopark Project questions a geopark can help us answer ... by reading the Our essential publicity and promotion of the geopark idea WE NEED TO BE SEEN, HEARD AND SUPPORTED A fantastic rural development opportunity Councillors and senior staff in County Mayo and > FLYER needs good publicity for strong support. County Galway, senior Galway City Council A5 size, it is simply key bullet points And so hopefully many of you have noticed staff, to the region’s TDs and Senators and about what a geopark is/isn’t, does/doesn’t, in recent months that the JCWL Geopark MEPs, and to senior staff at other stakeholder will/won’t ever be, to inform individuals, Project has upped its publicity through agencies including Geological Survey communities, businesses, others about various media outlets. We’ve had two-page Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Fáilte Ireland the idea. This will be sent out soon by news features in the Mayo News, Connacht and Coillte. And we made a submission to mail drop. Tribune, Connaught Telegraph and both the draft Mayo County Development Plan the Galway and Mayo Advertisers. An (Galway’s plan is pending).