Joint IGA and BGS Weekend Excursion: 2nd-3rd August 2025

Posted on 12 May 2025 by Gordon

Please Mind the Gap – Groundwater Flow through Permo-Triassic rocks of Northern Ireland

Please click HERE to register.

Leader: Dr Mark Cooper (Cgeol) is currently the GSNI Chief Geologist and he has a broad understanding of Northern Ireland geology in its all-island, UK and international contexts. Mark is chartered through the Geological Society of London and sits on the Northern Ireland Chapter Committee. His publications include 50 peer-reviewed, high impact papers, book chapters and over 20 geological maps and models covering a wide range of geological subject areas. 

This excursion is to look at how faults and igneous intrusions, such as dykes and sills, influence how fluids and heat move underground.  Understanding the impacts of these kinds of structures on the subsurface is becoming more and more important was we look to develop geothermal energy systems and make greater use of ground water here and around the world. It will take place around the area of Strangford and Belfast Loughs.

Packed lunches will be needed on both days and waterproof footwear with ankle support is advised. The rock exposures we will be looking at are mainly intertidal so will be slippery.  Dress appropriately for weather conditions. There will be some short periods of moderate exertion on both days.

Participants are limited to 30. 
Please click HERE to register.

After completing the registration form, You will be contacted within 7 days to confirm registration. Please email stephen.carrington@ucd.ie if you register and are subsequently unable to attend, so that your place can be reallocated.

Accommodation and Transport

We will do our best to coordinate between participants to assist car sharing and the use of public transport. Karen Parks has offered to hire a 9 person MPV for those who prefer not to use their car, but we would need 8 persons (+ Karen) to sign up at a cost of around £40 per person.  Please respond with relevant transport details/preferences  during registration. A free text box is provided for you to do this.

If you are arriving by train, there are several hotels close to Grand Central Station in Belfast (search ‘Hotels near Grand Central Station Belfast’ in Google Maps for locations and prices). Make sure to ask about parking if you are bringing a car.  The Hampton by Hilton has reduced price parking in a local multistory carpark. Sunday is based out near Carrickfergus, where there is a Premier Inn  at around £100.00 per night. Also, the Ivanhoe Inn and Hotel on the Saintfield Road is also an option (£125.00) .  If anyone is staying an extra day, Karen Parks has generously offered up to 3 places in her car for a trip up the East Antrim Coast. (email her on kparks601@outlook.com).

Restaurants

Belfast -Near the Train station
Amelia Hall
Villa Italia
Ten Square
Henry’s bar
Fratellis

Anywhere in the Cathedral Quarter  Booking advised for  an evening meal on Saturday night in central Belfast. 

Carrickfergus area
Papa Browns
Castello Italia

Whiteabbey
Bureau by the Lough
Little wing pizza restaurant
Sleepy Hollow

Larne
Ballygalley Hotel

Proposed  Itinerary

  • Amelia Hall
  • Villa Italia
  • Ten Square
  • Henry’s bar
  • Fratellis
  • Anywhere in the Cathedral Quarter  Booking advised for  an evening meal on Saturday night in central Belfast. 

Day 1 – 2nd August.

10.30am:  Meet at Scrabo Quarry Carpark. Toilets available. https://maps.app.goo.gl/nZ3qi2sEdMabvvHq7
The NIEA country park provides opportunity to look recently restored quarry faces with Sherwood Sandstone Group rocks and Paleogene dykes and sills.  The Sherwood Sandstone here is unusual in that is includes evidence of desert dunes and river environments.

12.30-1.30pm: Lunch.

1.30pm: Drive to lay-by adjacent to Strangford Lough. https://maps.app.goo.gl/LKzTWoTsDiKKocC38
Here we will look at a fault zone intruded by Paleogene dykes.  We will also examine Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group country rocks, that were laid down in river environments, and show the impacts of heat and fluid flow.

4pm: End of Day 1 of excursion. Return to accommodation.

Day 2 – 3rd August.

9.30am:  Meet at Carrickfergus Castle Carpark. https://maps.app.goo.gl/mAjzcUYMX6Wdi8su6   Toilets available.
We will examine the form of Paleogene dykes and a sill in the foundations of the castle.  The contact between the intrusion(s) and Triassic Mercia Mudstone Group rocks is visible and is baked.

10.30am: Drive to Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Rangers Museum
https://maps.app.goo.gl/k9fFqAgzJovx7Q2Q7
Here we will examine a number of dykes and sills intruding the Triassic Mercia Mudstone and see the development of intrusion breccias and what happens when dykes and sills come to an end.

12.30-1.30pm. Lunch.

1.30pm: Drive to  Hazelbank Car Park. Toilets available.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/o8SToNqPLSSgQXcR7
From Macedon Point to Whiteabbey, we will examine dykes intruding Mercia Mustone and the Sherwood Sandstone groups. In addition, we will examine a large fault that brings the two rock groups together, and which is intruded by multiple dykes.

4pm: End of excursion

Please click HERE to register.

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IGA 2025 Constitutional Review

Posted on 5 May 2025 by admin

Irish Geological Association Constitutional Review, 2025

This Constitution was adopted at the Annual General Meeting in 1972 and amended at Annual General Meetings in 1974, 1980, 1987 and 1990, at an Extraordinary General Meeting in 1991, at the AGM held in Jan. 2014 and at the AGM held in Jan. 2015. The below is the proposed restructured and amended constitution for review.

The Association

1.1 The Irish Geological Association, An Cumann Geolaíochta na hÉireann, is the name of our Association. In this document it will be referred to as the “Association”

Aims

2.1 The Association shall have the aim of furthering interest in the Geological sciences in Ireland and beyond, particularly through excursions. The Association shall provide a meeting ground for geological scientists and all interested persons.

Membership

3.1 Membership of the Association shall be open to anyone who pays the relevant annual membership fee.

3.2 The Association’s Council reserves the right to refuse Membership.

3.3 Annual subscription shall be paid by all Members, apart from Honorary Members.

3.4 Honorary Members may be chosen by the Council for exceptional dedication to Geology in Ireland and the Association’s aims.

3.5 The Association’s annual subscription falls due on the 1st January. Those persons in arrears by more than one year will become lapsed Members. Lapsed Members of IGA may not receive updates from the Association after the second year of unpaid Membership.

3.6 Changes to the rate of subscription shall be by majority vote at an Annual General Meeting

Meetings

4.1 The Association shall aim to hold at least 10 events per annum for its Members. The emphasis of IGA meetings shall be on excursions.

4.2 Events will be agreed and planned for at regular Council Meetings.

4.3 General Meetings require 28 days of notice to the Membership.

4.4 The Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held no later than 30th April each year.

4.5 Annual Reports shall be presented at the AGM, as well as the Audited Accounts. These Accounts of the Association shall be made up to the 31st of December in each year and shall be examined by an independent, competent party, who shall be appointed annually by members of the Association.

4.6 Each member of the Association shall be notified of an AGM Agenda, and list of Nominations for the Council, two weeks before the Annual General Meeting.

4.7 If a request for an Extraordinary General Meeting, signed by at least twenty members is received by email or post to the Council, such a meeting will be called within six weeks. Any of the functions of the Annual General Meeting may be carried out at this meeting.

4.8 In the case of a tie in voting at Meetings, the Chairperson (usually the IGA Council President) shall have a casting vote.

Council

5.1 The work of the Association shall be undertaken by a Council and by Committees of the Council, with Committee Members agreed by the Council.

5.2 The Council shall include a maximum of fifteen participants. All Council Members shall be Honorary.

5.3 Officers shall normally consist a President, up to two Vice-Presidents (one outgoing, having just served as President and one incoming, about to become President), Treasurer, Excursions, Secretary and Lectures Secretary. Other roles may be identified as the Council sees fit e.g. Website Manager.

5.4 The President and Vice-Presidents (outgoing VP and incoming VP) shall serve terms of two consecutive years each.

5.5 At any Meeting of the Council, four Members, including two Officers, shall constitute a Quorum.

5.6 The Council shall have the power to make such regulations as may be necessary for the proper functioning of the Association.

5.7 Should a Council Member vacate a position, it shall be possible for the Council to co-opt an alternative IGA Member until the next Annual General Meeting.

5.8 The Council may co-opt additional Members of the Association who show willingness to serve up to the maximum number of fifteen Members.

5.9 Co-opted Members shall serve until the end of the calendar year in which they are appointed.

5.10 Not more than three co-opted Members may join the Council at any one time.

Elections

6.1 Members of the Association, of good standing*, who have been nominated by another Member of the Association to the Council, at least two weeks before the Annual General Meeting, and who have agreed to accept this nomination, shall be eligible for election or re-election to the Council.

6.2 Election of the Council shall take place at the Annual General Meeting of the Association.

6.3 Proxy voting will be permitted, where a ‘right to vote’ has been signed by the Member who cannot attend, identifying the assigned person permitted to vote on that Member’s behalf. The assigned Member, must be present in person or via electronic means.

6.4 If a Council role remains vacant without nomination, prior to the AGM, it shall be possible to propose an IGA Member of good standing, who agrees to stand for election, from the floor during an AGM.

Constitution

7.1 Amendment of this Constitution shall be proposed by Council and require the support of a two-thirds majority at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association.

7.2 Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be received by the President at least four weeks before the date of the Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting.

7.3 At least two weeks’ notice of proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be given by the President to Members of the Association.

Association Property

8.1 Any properties or assets held in trust by the Association shall be held in the names of serving Council members.

8.2 No Association Member is entitled to any property or effects of the Association.

8.3 In the event of a dissolution of the Association, any Association property shall be disposed of by gift to such Societies or Associations having for their objectives the furtherance of geological sciences. These shall be selected by a vote of a meeting of the Association called for the purpose.

*Valid Membership, with subscription up to date

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IGA 2025 AGM and Council Nominations

Posted on 21 April 2025 by admin

Venue: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), 5 Merrion Square, Dublin 2

In person and by ZoomDate: Tuesday, 29th April from 6.30pm

AGENDA

1. Apologies

2. Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting

3. Reports by Secretaries on Excursions, Lectures

4. Presentation of the Audited Accounts by the Treasurer

5. Constitutional Review and Vote

6. Council Election 2025-2026

7. Presidential Address “Important Geological Sites for IGA over the past 65 years”

Reception until 9.30pm

Acknowledgements: Many thanks to DIAS, particularly to Prof. Chris Bean (Head of Geophysics) and Huda Mahomet (Research Support Manager), for hosting the Irish Geological Association Annual General Meeting for 2025.

Irish Geological Association Constitutional Review, 2025

This Constitution was adopted at the Annual General Meeting in 1972 and amended at Annual General Meetings in 1974, 1980, 1987 and 1990, at an Extraordinary General Meeting in 1991, at the AGM held in Jan. 2014 and at the AGM held in Jan. 2015. The below is the proposed restructured and amended constitution for review.

The Association

1.1 The Irish Geological Association, An Cumann Geolaíochta na hÉireann, is the name of our Association. In this document it will be referred to as the “Association”

Aims

2.1 The Association shall have the aim of furthering interest in the Geological sciences in Ireland and beyond, particularly through excursions. The Association shall provide a meeting ground for geological scientists and all interested persons.

Membership

3.1 Membership of the Association shall be open to anyone who pays the relevant annual membership fee.

3.2 The Association’s Council reserves the right to refuse Membership.

3.3 Annual subscription shall be paid by all Members, apart from Honorary Members.

3.4 Honorary Members may be chosen by the Council for exceptional dedication to Geology in Ireland and the Association’s aims.

3.5 The Association’s annual subscription falls due on the 1st January. Those persons in arrears by more than one year will become lapsed Members. Lapsed Members of IGA may not receive updates from the Association after the second year of unpaid Membership.

3.6 Changes to the rate of subscription shall be by majority vote at an Annual General Meeting

Meetings

4.1 The Association shall hold at least 10 events per annum for its Members. The emphasis of IGA meetings shall be on excursions.

4.2 Events will be agreed and planned for at regular Council Meetings.

4.3 Annual General Meetings require 21 days of notice to the Membership.

4.4 The Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held no later than 30th April each year.

4.5 Annual Reports shall be presented at the AGM, as well as the Audited Accounts. These Accounts of the Association shall be made up to the 31st of December in each year and shall be examined by an independent, competent party, who shall be appointed annually by members of the Association.

4.6 Each member of the Association shall be notified of an AGM Agenda, and list of Nominations for the Council, two weeks before the Annual General Meeting.

4.7 Extraordinary General Meetings require 14 days of notice to the Membership.

4.8 If a request for an Extraordinary General Meeting, signed by at least twenty members is received by email or post to the Council, such a meeting will be called within six weeks. Any of the functions of the Annual General Meeting may be carried out at this meeting.

4.9 In the case of a tie in voting at Meetings, the Chairperson (usually the IGA Council President) shall have a casting vote.

Council

5.1 The work of the Association shall be undertaken by a Council and by Committees of the Council, with Committee Members agreed by the Council.

5.2 The Council shall include a maximum of fifteen participants. All Council Members shall be Honorary.

5.3 Officers shall normally consist a President, up to two Vice-Presidents (one outgoing, having just served as President and one incoming, about to become President), Treasurer, Excursions, Secretary and Lectures Secretary. Other roles may be identified as the Council sees fit e.g. Website Manager.

5.4 The President and Vice-Presidents (outgoing VP and incoming VP) shall serve terms of two consecutive years each.

5.5 At any Meeting of the Council, four Members, including two Officers, shall constitute a Quorum.

5.6 The Council shall have the power to make such regulations as may be necessary for the proper functioning of the Association.

5.7 Should a Council Member vacate a position, it shall be possible for the Council to co-opt an alternative IGA Member until the next Annual General Meeting.

5.8 The Council may co-opt additional Members of the Association who show willingness to serve up to the maximum number of fifteen Members.

5.9 Co-opted Members shall serve until the end of the calendar year in which they are appointed.

5.10 Not more than three co-opted Members may join the Council at any one time.

Elections

6.1 Members of the Association, of good standing*, who have been nominated by another Member of the Association to the Council, at least two weeks before the Annual General Meeting, and who have agreed to accept this nomination, shall be eligible for election or re-election to the Council.

6.2 Election of the Council shall take place at the Annual General Meeting of the Association.

6.3 Proxy voting will be permitted, where a ‘right to vote’ has been signed by the Member who cannot attend, identifying the assigned person permitted to vote on that Member’s behalf. The assigned Member, must be present in person or via electronic means.

6.4 If a Council role remains vacant without nomination, prior to the AGM, it shall be possible to propose an IGA Member of good standing, who agrees to stand for election, from the floor during an AGM.

Constitution

7.1 Amendment of this Constitution shall be proposed by Council and require the support of a two-thirds majority at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association.

7.2 Proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be received by the President at least four weeks before the date of the Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting.

7.3 At least two weeks’ notice of proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be given by the President to Members of the Association.

Association Property

8.1 Any properties or assets held in trust by the Association shall be held in the names of serving Council members.

8.2 No Association Member is entitled to any property or effects of the Association.

8.3 In the event of a dissolution of the Association, any Association property shall be disposed of by gift to such Societies or Associations having for their objectives the furtherance of geological sciences. These shall be selected by a vote of a meeting of the Association called for the purpose.

*Valid Membership, with subscription up to date

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