Galway Geological Assoc (GGA)
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galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
Galway Geological Assoc (GGA)
@galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
44 followers 41 following 28 posts
Galway/W. Ireland based; informal connections to Earth & Ocean Sciences, Uni. of Galway & cognate associations on island of Ireland. Images: Connemara marble; Phanerotinus cristatus (from Tuam)
GGA is passionate about the natural environment & esp. geology
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galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
2026 calendar by @corkgeological.bsky.social. Spendid photographs of geological structures, fossils, etc. from #Ireland & further afield. Several photos featuring memorable CGA/GGA trip to #Árainn (#InisMór), #AranIslands, led by @johnjfwalsh.bsky.social. @geolsurvie.bsky.social
Scan of front cover, CGA geology calendar 2026 showing participants on Carboniferous rock platform on western shore, near Poll na bPéist, Inis Mór, 28 May, 2025 Scan of back cover, CGA geology calendar 2026 showing participants climbing towards Dún Aonghasa (large Bronze Age fort) on cliff location, Inis Mór; in background Galway Bay and Connemara. 28 May, 2025
November 25, 2025 at 7:59 PM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
Nice to see Emain Macha / Loughnashade highlighted. A fine place to visit at any time of year. Photos taken on a fine June day 2015 during a visit to the Centre & this impresssive site. All the more memorable on account of the expert guidance by Prof Jim Mallory of @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social
The impressive earth works that surround the artificial mound on the hilltop at Emain Macha / Navan Fort; photo: 2015-06-13, Michael O'Connell Empressive earthworks at Emain Macha / Navan Fort; photo: 2015-06-13, Michael O'Connell Fine ash tree (one of many) and lush countryside at Emain Macha / Navan Fort; photo: 2015-06-13, Michael O'Connell
November 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
Tuesday, 11 Nov, 19:00 h, #GGA Zoom lecture: The Ethics of Mineral Extraction by Dr Nick O'Neill, #TCD. Earthrise (Dec 24 1968), by Bill Anders (NASA, Apollo 8), shows earth as a fragile blue marble in blackness of space. It inspired the 1st Earth Day 1970 & this lecture. www.galwaygeology.net
Photo by NASA/Bill Anders - http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a410/AS8-14-2383HR.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=306267
November 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
The final stop was the church at Boher where we admired the exquisite 12C workmanship of the St Manchan reliquary & the beautiful stained glass windows by Harry Clarke. Our thanks to John Feehan, our guide, for opening gates (literally) & our eyes to the rich heritage of Co. #Offaly
St Manchan reliquary & the stained glass window featuring St Manchan by the Harry Clarke Studios (Dublin, 1930s) St Manchan reliquary - front panel featuring a cross with intricate metalwork and the apostles St Manchan reliquary - side panel with intricate metalwork that shows Scandinavian influence Map of the route of the fieldtrip
October 13, 2025 at 10:06 PM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
Lovely to see Clonfinlough Stone, a most impressive limestone erratic in the grounds of a farmstead near Clonmacnoise. For a full description of this & other Offaly treasures see 'The Landscape of Clonmacnoise' BY John Feehan (2014; Offaly County Council/Bord na Móna).
Clonfinlough Stone (limestone) in the grounds of a farmstead near Clonmacnoise. Assumed to be in situ it preserves beneath it undisturbed glacial deposits Clonfinlough Stone as sketched by George Du Noyer in the 1860s. The sketch is as reproduced in fine, well illustrated volume 'The Landscape of Clonmacnoise' John Feehan (2014; Offaly County Council/Bord na Móna)
October 13, 2025 at 10:06 PM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
A privately owned quarry gave the opportunity to see some of the internal structures of an esker
sand, gravel, boulders (rounded) as well as fine silt deposits convey the impression of the highly dynamic conditions that were present in the sub-glacial rivers that were responsible for the many eskers in the Irish midlands and especially in Co. Offaly. 6 km to the west of this privately owned quarry is the medieval monastic site of Clonmacnoise, associated with St Ciaran Another part of the quarry show a bewildering variety of glacial deposit Carboniferous limestone dominates within the glacial deposits. Here a stromatolithic limestone rock with stromatolites (identification courtesy of Prof John Walsh, UCD) Fresh sandmartin nests on the fine glacial deposits on the quarry face
October 13, 2025 at 10:06 PM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
#GGA #geology fieldtrip to Birr/Ferbane, #Offaly on Saturday started at a golf course & ended in a church. The strongly undulating landscape at #Birr golf course has its origins in the melting glaciers of c. 19k years ago. A fine esker (Riada), steep-sided & wood covered, forms the western boundary
Dune-like landscape that is Birr golf course. The course serves to preserve the glacial landscape and show it off at its best Mature beech on the steep sides of the esker that forms the western boundary of the golf course. Also the occasional yew tree present Honey fungus (Armillaria) mushrooms at the base of the trees on the esker Clusters of honey fungus (Armillaria) mushrooms
October 13, 2025 at 10:06 PM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
GGA Zoom lecture (Wed, 15 October 2025 at 19:00 h): Coastal boulder deposits on the #AranIslands record at least 2000 years of extreme wave events
BY Professor Rónadh Cox (WilliamsCollege Williams College, MA, USA). For Z link email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
Megaclasts resting on bedrock near Poll na bPeist; 2025-05-28; GGA/CGA Fieldtrip, Inis Mór (photo: Michael O’Connell)
October 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
GGA #fieldtrip on Sat 11 October: Exploring Midland #Eskers (leader: Dr John Feehan). Start point Birr, Co Offaly. For further details email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
Knockbarron esker complex; image: lidar and OSI map. Image provided by J Feehan in the context of GGA Fieldtrip Co. Offaly, October 2022
October 7, 2025 at 1:09 PM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
#Árainn #geology fieldtrip, book-ended by gales & rain which made the sunshine of Tue & Wed all the more appreciated, ended too soon last evening with CGA taking ferry to Doolin while GGA headed for Rossaveel. Thanks Bettie, Ken, James et al. for bringing such Cork joy & enthusiasm to the event.
May 29, 2025 at 10:32 AM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
#GGA / @corkgeological.bsky.social joint 2025 3-day #geology field trip ended last afternoon on the quay at Kilronan, #InisMór
Carboniferous limestone geology (karst) shown in a new light by Prof John Walsh #EarthScience @ucddublin.bsky.social. A once in a life time experience!
Exploring Carboniferous geology as exposed on the shore at/near Poll na bPéist. The main features (strata, calcite veins, modern-day erosion, etc.) expertly explained by Professor John Walsh. Míle buíochas, John
May 29, 2025 at 10:32 AM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
#GGA Z Lecture (Zoom), Tuesday, 11th March at 19.00 h
‘The last glacial termination in the west of Ireland: tackling old problems with new toys’ BY @gordonbromley.bsky.social #PRU, @uniofgalway.bsky.social #EarthScience #IceAge #Connemara
For link email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
Fáilte roimh cách
The Twelve Bens, Connemara (photo: Gordon Bromley; 2022-01-04)
March 7, 2025 at 9:12 PM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
#GGA lecture (Z): Coastal Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise in Ireland BY Xavier Monetys, Senior Geologist @geolsurvie.bsky.social.
The challenges posed by increased storminess & sea-level rise, & responses by coastal communities & government will be discussed. For link email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
Morning after Storm Kathleen at Silverstrand, Bearna, Co. Galway (photo: Michael O’Connell; 2024-04-07) Morning after Storm Éowyn; the Promenade, Salthill, Galway (photo: Michael O’Connell; 2025-01-24) Morning after Storm Éowyn; the Promenade, Salthill, Galway (photo: Michael O’Connell; 2025-01-24) Doonloughan, west Connemara, Co. Galway. A week after Storm Éowyn (photo: Michael O’Connell; 2025-02-02)
February 26, 2025 at 11:36 AM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
#GGA lecture (Z): Irish Peat as an Atmospheric Archive
by Dr Lucy Blennerhassett (#UCD_Earth_Sci; #iCRAG), Tuesday, 21 January, at 19.00 h
Dr Lucy speaks on new techniques that interrogate the environmental archives provided by bogs in Ireland. For link email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
Collecting a peat core (segment length 50cm) for detailed analyses (August 2020; image kindly provided by Dr Lucy Blennerhassett)
January 13, 2025 at 3:38 PM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
Nollaig shona / Happy Christmas from #GGA (Galway Geological Association) to all on @bsky.app with an interest in #geology, the #NaturalWorld & the #GreatOutdoors
November saw substantial snow fall in counties Galway and Mayo. Fortunate enough to get to Knockma, a limestone knoll with fine views over the lowlands of Galway & the neighbouring counties of Mayo to the north and Clare to the south. Knockma is famed in myth and legend - a mystical place well known to our ancestors from prehistoric times onwards
December 24, 2024 at 9:30 AM
galway-geol-ass.bsky.social
First post by #GGA on @bsky.app! GGA announces Zoom lecture by Colin Bunce:
‘Some Impacts of the Last Glacial Maximum on the Burren’
Tuesday, 10 December at 7 pm
For Zoom link email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
Fáilte roimh cách / All welcome
Sampling an erratic in the western Burren (south of Black Head). Atlantic Ocean / Galway Bay. Cois Fharraige (coastal Connemara) in the distance. Photo: Colin Bunce
December 4, 2024 at 4:04 PM