Ireland’s Fossil Heritage hosted six fossil-themed walks for Heritage Week 2024. The walks explored the fabulous fossils in the urban building stones of Athlone, Dublin city centre, Kilkenny, Clonmel and Cork. The walks were attended by over 120 people of all ages and abilities, and included two distinguished guests – Minister Malcolm Noonan TD and the Hon. Gary Gray AO, Ambassador to Ireland for Australia! Members of the public were treated to some excellent examples of classic marine fossils from the Irish Carboniferous limestone, such as brachiopods, gastropods, solitary and colonial corals, coralline algae and crinoids. Many walks also featured the striking sinuous trails of the Liscannor flagstones, called Olivellites, and some also contained some Jurassic rocks of the Portland Limestone and Portland Roach, which contain thick-shelled oysters, ammonites, belemnites, and gastropods.

We plan to run more Fossil Trails soon, so watch this space!