Cé go bhfuil saibhreas iontach geolaíochta sa réigiún seo, thar gach rud eile baineann geopháirc le daoine – na daoine atá ina gcónaí anseo anois, na daoine a bhí anseo le linn na mílte bliain, agus na daoine a bheidh ina gcónaí agus a mhairfidh beo anseo san am atá le teacht. Baineann an scéal uile le cuairteoirí atá ag iarraidh blaiseadh a fháil ar mhonabhar ár dtírdhreacha agus breathnú thart air, guth na talún.
Community has been the driving force behind the geopark idea. A voluntary organisation GeoTreallús Dhúiche Sheoigheach agus Lochanna an Iarthair (Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geoenterprise) is a company limited by guarantee/CLG set up to represent the interests of about 20 communities and some local NGOs and achieve the goal of a sustainable geopark. Managed by a board with expertise drawn from across the communities and wider experience, it has led preparation of successful funding applications to Geological Survey Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Ireland 2040 funds. Joyce Country and Western Lakes UNESCO Global Geopark is supported by these and other collaborating state partners.
JCWL geopark region covers over 1500 km2 including Lough Carra, Lough Mask and about half of Lough Corrib. It primarily includes the territory and communities around the villages of Ballintubber, Carnacon, Killawalla, Aughagower, Partry, Tourmakeady, Finny, Leenane, Recess/Lough Inagh, Maam, Maam Cross, Cloghbrack, Glencorrib, Corr na Móna, Oughterard, Cross, Clonbur and The Neale. Ballinrobe, Cong and Headford are the only towns. Larger centres of population (outside the territory) including Galway City, Westport and Castlebar are ‘gateways’. These communities are organised in a network following a charter of principles described in the Geopark’s tourism strategy. The work of this network aligns very well with the UN SDGs in particular Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 11 (sustainable communities).
Our local schools
The Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark is also involved with all the local schools of the region, at primary and secondary level. The geopark geologist offers visits to the school where local geology and heritage is presented with some samples for the students to interact with. Field visits can also be organised. If you are interested in booking a visit from the geologist, déan teagmháil linn.
This website also contains curriculum tips on how to use the geopark as an outdoor classroom and various other resources for teachers (see more information in our learning page).
Local primary school pupils were asked to make a poster on their local heritage for them to be displayed at the exhibition space of the geopark’s conference in 2021. See them in the gallery to the right.
Scéalta le hinsint
Cruthaíodh Líonra Oidhreachta Dhúiche Sheoigheach agus Lochanna an Iarthair i samhradh na bliana 2020 ag nascadh baill de na cumainn staire áitiúla agus baill de na comhairlí pobail a bhfuil spéis acu san oidhreacht malartú agus comhoibriú ar thionscadail don réigiún iomlán. Cuidíonn an líonra le staidéar agus ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar stair ceangailte go láidir ár mbailte agus sráidbhailte, ár ngleannta agus ár lochanna. Dhírigh an chéad tionscadal, cnuasach alt gairid lena n-áirítear roinnt i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge, ar na trí loch mhóra thiar Ceara, Measca agus Coirib agus foilsíodh é mar chuid de Sheachtain Náisiúnta Oidhreachta 2020. Féach doiciméad an tionscadail anseo.
Más spéis leat a bheith páirteach i Líonra Oidhreachta Dhúiche Sheoigheach agus Lochanna an Iarthair, déan teagmháil linn.