Dune Gathering gathers momentum in tackling critical issues on our coast
Please find the full report below:
Report -3rd Sand Dune Gathering 2025
Summary below:
As the climate crises deepens, and biodiversity loss continues at a pace, local communities in Ireland are standing up for our threatened coastal sand dunes. Having demanded action local groups are now working with academics and authorities to develop new ways of tackling these two linked problems. While Storm Éowyn continued the now annual battering of our coastal communities, it also highlighted the complexity in providing solutions that works for nature and people.
On Saturday 17th May, coastal communities from across Ireland gathered at the Galway Business School in Salthill, Galway to mark out ways to improve the situation immediately. Joining them were government agencies, local authority staff and NGOs, travelling from as far as Donegal and Waterford.
“Although we have a wealth of climate and biodiversity policy, implementing these is proving tricky, where local politics, funding, land ownership and other very real considerations are preventing swift action. The Dune Gathering addressed some of these tricky issues directly, looking at best practice and measures that could be tried in local projects this summer.” Says Sue O’Toole (CARO, and Chairperson of the Beaches & Dunes Forum).
Good communication was a common thread through most of the discussions. A novel approach. that was suggest was to use art and music more when trying to get a message across to a wide audience. This is being tried in Galway this summer, where Testing Ground Projects is tackling coastal erosion with dance. Interpretative dance artists and sean nós dancers are teaming up with scientists to share knowledge of climate and ecological processes on the city’s coastal strip.
Another major theme of the Gathering was the importance of monitoring in planning actions. Dr Eugene Farrell a coastal scientist with the University of Galway explained that data underpins good planning and management, “without having data to track the actual rates of erosion, how can we make informed choices on future scenarios”.
Dr Farrell is using drone and satellite technology to track changes in sand dune systems across Ireland. Yet, having scientists at every dune site in the country is not feasible. So citizen science is a key component in generating the data required for local plans. Communities have begun this valuable work already, contributing to the newly formed Beaches and Dunes Forum, and the new one-stop-shop for all things related to sand dunes in Ireland their web resource “dunes.ie”.
The 3rd Annual Sand Dune Gathering concluded with a visit on Grattan Beach, Salthill, where participants enjoyed a “mindfulness” exercise with Achill ETB, to connect with nature on a blissful sunny afternoon. Catherine Twomey (Tramore EcoGroup) seemed to sum up the general sentiment on the day, “Very interesting and we learned a lot in a short space of time, made some good contacts and have a few ideas which we’ll try with our volunteers this summer.”
Further information & Notes to Editors:
Contact: Dr Kevin Lynch, Geography, University of Galway [email protected]
Sand dunes are vital to local communities as they constitute biodiversity hotspots, offer natural protection against extreme storm events, and have a significant cultural and economic value. However, they are also extremely vulnerable, facing growing threats resulting from the continuous pressure from development, visitors, inappropriate coastal defence works, and of course climate change impacts.
The event was organised and run by the Beaches and Dunes Forum.
This Forum has developed from two distinct initiatives
1) the 2024 Pobal funded, Beaches and Dunes Climate Adaptation Project, designed to build the capacity of local communities to utilise sand dunes as a nature-based solution to climate change. The partners were Leave No Trace Ireland, Atlantic Seaboard North Climate Action Regional Office, Department of Geography, the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board, in association with Accelerating Change Together (ACT) and Clean Coasts.
2) the national Protect Our Dunes Campaign which began in 2021 and has built strong stakeholder involvement led by ASBN CARO, with connections to the LIFE on Machair EU funded project.
More information on this event and on the active work from different organisations and community groups in protecting coastal sand dunes can be found on the website dunes.ie
Leave No Trace Ireland
Ireland’s only outdoor ethics programme, which promotes the responsible use of the outdoors. Through education, research and partnerships, Leave No Trace Ireland enables and supports individuals, communities, organisations, and companies in reducing the environmental impact of outdoor activities.
University of Galway
Geography Dept.
Two coastal scientists with sand dune expertise [Dr Kevin Lynch and Dr Eugene Farrell]. Along with our students (PhD MSc BSc BA programmes, inc. CPD) our research employs state of the art technologies in understanding dune processes and functioning. Our research graduates are finding employment in environmental consulting, local government and further research projects.
The Climate Action Regional Offices (CARO)
The mission of the Climate Action Regional Offices is to coordinate and support local government to lead transformative change and measurable climate action across our cities and counties.
Pobal
Pobal works on behalf of Government, with communities and local agencies, to support social inclusion and local and community development.
Mayo Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB)
The Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board is the leading provider of education and training in the region, delivering educational services to children, young people, and adults through our Further Education and Training Centres, Youthreach Centres and Training Centres.
Testing Ground Projects
