The Great Irish Fossil Hunt
Guidelines
What is it?
The Great Irish Fossil Hunt is a new campaign to encourage the Irish public to find fossils and to send us a photograph of their fossil finds.
Why are you doing it?
We want to create a fossil map of Ireland that will capture the full range of fossils that can be found all around the country. This map will include fossils in natural rock outcrops, but also fossils visible in building stones in our towns and cities. This will help to make fossils much more accessible to the Irish public, no matter whether you live in a rural area or big city, anywhere in the country.
What do I have to do?
We are asking members of the public to find fossils in natural and urban outdoor settings across the island of Ireland. When you find a fossil submit your find here!
Where can I find fossils?
You can find fossils in rocks in natural settings and in urban areas. The best place to look for fossils is in rocky outcrops at the beach, but you can also find fossils in rocks in fields and mountains; even the stones in stone walls can have fossils. In urban areas, you can find fossils in building stones used in footpaths, walls, gutters, pillars, benches, etc. Not all rocks contain fossils – only sedimentary rocks such as sandstone, limestone and mudstone contain fossils. Other rocks, such as granite and marble, don’t preserve fossils!
How do I find out my GPS location?
On an Android phone:
- Open the Google map app.
- Tap and hold your location until the “Dropped Pin” appears.
- Swipe up to see the full details of your location, including the GPS coordinates.
On an iPhone:
- Open Apple Maps.
- Tap your location on the top right of the screen, then tap the blue circle marking your location.
- Swipe up to see your GPS coordinates.
What does it cost?
Submissions are free.
How many submissions can I enter?
You are welcome to enter more than one submission.
Is there a closing date?
Yes. The closing date for submissions is the 31st August 2025.
What happens after the closing date?
The team will review the public submissions and will travel the country to visit as many of the photo locations as possible. Submissions selected as a high priority for these site visits will meet key criteria that include:
- The photograph is in focus
- The feature in the photograph can be definitively identified by our team of experts as a fossil, and not a modern feature, man-made feature or other geological feature
- The fossil is of high quality (i.e. good preservation of features)
- Precise GPS map coordinates and directions are provided
Fossils that show other notable features will also be ranked highly, e.g. if they are a particularly rare type.
What happens if my fossil is selected for the map?
During the submission process, you will be asked whether you wish to have your name displayed with the photograph on our website. This is an opt-in process. If you do not wish your name to be displayed, your submission will still be valid and will be reviewed by our team.
Are there any prizes?
We will hold a fossil-themed raffle for all entries that list the submitter’s name. The raffle prizes are kindly donated by Kilkenny Limestone Quarries Ltd.
When will you launch the new fossil map?
The new Fossil Map of Ireland will be launched during Science Week (9th – 16th November 2025), during a major public fossil event at UCC.