How to find fossils in Ireland... and maybe win a prize for your photo of one
Picture: Fossil Treasures And Fossil Are Cities Of Towns Heritage Ireland's Ireland's Full
Limestone, sandstone, shale — these are familiar sights in the footpaths, walls, and buildings of Irish towns and cities. But there’s a lot more to these rocks than meets the eye. Many Irish rocks contain fossils, which are the preserved remnants of ancient creatures that lived millions of years ago. Fossils are as much a part of our natural heritage as our wildlife, castles and ringforts, but have been overlooked for many years.
A major national initiative led by University College Cork, ' Ireland’s Fossil Heritage', is working to change this, with funding from Science Foundation Ireland. Since 2021, the initiative has been bringing the Irish public closer to their fossil heritage using an exciting programme of school workshops, public walks and hands-on exhibits at festivals, supported by a website with lots of resources for kids, parents and teachers.
The project is led by Professor Maria McNamara of UCC’s School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
According to Prof. McNamara: “Here in Ireland, we’re lucky to have many rocks that contain fossils. Our rich fossil record stretches back over 500 million years, to the dawn of animal life. Ireland is famous for many types of fossils — the shells and skeletons of marine animals, the leaves, bark and roots of fossil plants, and the footprints and bones of animals that lived on land. These fossils are relatively easy to find if you know where to look. Unlike the UK — where there is a long tradition of public involvement in fossil-hunting — there’s relatively little public knowledge about fossils here in Ireland. We saw a gap here and a need to provide more information to the public about Irish fossils.”
Some of the best sources of fossils in Irish rocks are limestones, which are most common in central parts of the country but also can be found along the coastlines of many Irish counties. Fossils in limestone usually appear as pale markings against the dark background of the rock.
A trick to identifying fossils: they can appear quite different, depending on how the rock is split.
For instance:
- fossil crinoids (relatives of starfish) can look like polo mints or the sawtooth edge of a comb
- fossil brachiopods (relatives of clams) can look like shells, crescents or circles
- and fossil corals can look like ice-cream cones, honeycombs, or long cylinders.
- Other fossil types that are common more locally include gastropods (snails), bryozoans (which look like tiny webs or nets), Lepidodendron (tree bark) and Stigmaria (tree roots).
Dr Jess Franklin, senior engagement officer with the project, has this advice for members of the public: “If you are keen to find fossils, the best places are along the coast. Rocky outcrops beside beaches are good places to start. Remember to wear sturdy footwear (rocks can be slippery) and to check the tides before fossil-hunting. It’s also really important to always take care near cliffs — rockfalls are very unpredictable so keep a safe distance.”
Not all rocks contain fossils, however — igneous rocks such as granites and basalt, and metamorphic rocks such as marble — usually lack fossils.
To guide you where to look, the Ireland’s Fossil Heritage website includes an interactive map which shows various places around the country that are where you can find fossils, with information on what types of fossils you can find at each locality.
If you live far from the coast, you can also find fossils in urban building stones used in the buildings, walls and pavements of Irish towns and cities. While some of these fossils are Irish, others are from abroad. On the Ireland’s Fossil Heritage website you can find urban fossil trails for 10 towns and cities across Ireland, with plans to add more sites through 2024 and 2025.
If you find fossils in your local area, or anywhere in natural rock outcrops or building stones in Ireland, you can enter a photograph to the National Fossil Photo Contest. Entry is free and the closing date is Friday, September 27 at 5pm. There are lots of prizes, including a top prize of €400, and the winning entries will be exhibited in two public exhibitions in Cork city in November.
You can join free guided fossil-themed urban walks during Heritage Week this August, with walks in Athlone (August 21), Dublin (August 22), Kilkenny (August 23) and Clonmel (August 23).
“Fossils are a unique way of connecting us to the past,” said Prof. McNamara. “They evoke a real sense of wonder that something so fragile as a tiny shell or leaf can survive for millions of years.”
Dr Franklin added, “We love hearing from members of the public who have found fossils, or simply want help identifying fossils that they have found. Because every fossil is unique, we ask that members of the public leave fossils in place for other people to find and enjoy.”
If you want to know more about where to find fossils, you can explore the Ireland’s Fossil Heritage website.
If you are a teacher and you would like the project team to deliver a workshop at your school, you can contact Prof. McNamara (maria.mcnamara@ucc.ie) or Dr Franklin directly (jfranklin@ucc.ie).
- Professor Maria McNamara is Professor of Palaeontology at University College Cork; Dr Jess Franklin is the science engagement officer for Ireland’s Fossil Heritage