sandstones, slates and conglomerates, deposited laid down in deep water, crops out to the north by Westport, and these rocks in turn are overlain by finer deposits washed down from the north and east. These ancient rocks, and the numerous eruptions sparked off by the collision of continents, are of great interest to geologists, and for this reason, Patricia argues that the Joyce Country could become more widely recognised internationally not just for its scenery and history but as a geopark. Since the Petersburg Outdoor Education Centre was established by the Galway Vocational Education Committee a number of organisations including Mayo County Council, the Dept of Gaeltach, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, and the Geological Survey of Ireland, have become actively involved, and gaining recognition as a geopark is high on Patricia’s agenda. As she explained, this is not something that can happen overnight, and indeed, setting up the Outdoor Centre to begin with was quite a challenge. Situated in an idyllic spot by Lough Corrib, the old house that is now the centre piece, to put it mildly, was a wreck. “We were advised to demolish it,” said Patricia, but instead, it was made into a highly successful restoration project, with a canteen, lecture room, and even laundry facilities for visitors. The previous owners, the Lynches, like many landed gentry, gave up their large estate, and the house, they had once planned to remodel into a mock castle, fell into such decay that the roof fell in, but thanks to the restoration, some of old Lynch family photographs now hang in the reception room. As Patricia explained, local support for the geopark concept is high. A growing number of farmers have shown willingness to accommodate visitors, and some, said Patricia, have even handed over sites to allow cars to park. Access, said Patricia, is a very important consideration in developing a real functioning geopark. Geologists and students are not just sightseers, they need to explore and get face-to-face with rock exposures. Sometimes, said Patricia, people think that creating a geopark means that restrictions are going to be imposed on local communities, but as she is keen to point out, this is certainly not the case. “This is all about adding value,” she said, and while a number of outside agencies are involved, the agenda ultimately is in the hands of those living in the area.
Nafoofey lake with the Partry Mountains rising behind. Geologically, the area is quite complex, so apart from providing problems for researchers to solve, geology students have a lot to learn by visiting the Joyce County. This is the sort of activity that fits in well with the Petersburg centre, and every year a number of geologists from Sheffield University come and a large group of US students from Madison University, Virginia, stay there for an overseas field trip. The centre provides hostel type accommodation, which, as Patricia observes, is ideal for students who want to combine field work with a bit of after hours socialising. Last month, these students were in residence, catering for themselves and leaving their laptops and recorders out during the day in the lecture hall. Hotels, observed Patricia, could never provide that kind of accommodation, but they coul B6W'F???&V?Vf?Bg&??F?W&?7G2v??v?V?B&V6?FR???v??r??B??&R&?WBv?BF?W??fR6??RF?6VR?v?W&R?2F?RvV?&???vV???w??2??&?V?F&?W2??Bv???RF?W&R&R???6?v??f?6?BfVGW&W2F?&?Vv??WB????F?RvV?&?&??V7B?2&6VB&?V?BF?R???6V?FVf??VB???6R6?V?G'?v??6?W?FV?G2g&??6?WF??????F???'F?v?v??F?W&R&R??7G&?7B&?V?F&?W2?'WBG&?6?v?6?6?BF?R???f?7W2?2??F?R??G66R&?V?B6??r?6???&"?6??6?'&V2?6?&?????f?????F?W&??VG??????????????B?VV?V??F?R???F???6R?bF?R&??V7B??f??fW2W7F&?6???r?v&V?W72F?BvV???w?6?&?f?FRF?Rf?V?FF???f?"'&?B&?vR?b??6?FWfV???V?G2&6VB??'&??v??r??&Rf?6?F?'2??F?F?R&Vv????&F?W"F????????rBvV???w????6??F????F?R???2F???R?B??R?bF?R?W?V?V?V?G2??'&?B'V?F?R?bGG&7F???2????bv??6?V???6RF?Rf?6?F?.( ?2W?W&?V?6R?f?"F??6Rv????RF?V????F?Rw&VB?WFF??'2??&VFVf??VB2vV?&????VF?FV?&V6??W2&?rGG&7F??????F?R7BfWr?V'2?V?&W"?b&V2&?V?BF?Rv?&?B?fR&V6??R6?76?f?VB2vV?&?2??BF??6RF?B?fR&VV?&?RF?FV???7G&FR??v??WfV??b7W7F??&?R??vV?V?B??fRv??VB?ff?6??&V6?v??F???????V6?F?R6?Rv?2v?&?B?W&?FvR6?FW2????&V??B?F?R?&&?R&6?6fW2??fW&??v???BF?R6?W"6?7B??vW?f?&B?fR6??WfVBF??26V??b&?f???BBF?RF??R?bw&?F??r?7V&?76???g&??F?R'W'&V???6?&R?2V?FW"6??6?FW&F??????BWfW'?7V&?76???v???7V66VVB?F?RFW&?2&RV?FR7G&?7B??B??BWfW'?&V?bvV???v?6???FW&W7B?27V?F&?R?'WBF?R?ff?6???&V6?v??6VBvV?&?2F?6WB7F?F&B??BF?W?&?f?FRv??Bv?&???r??FV?f?"6???V??G?&6VBw&?W2F?f????r?V?FW'7F?F&??&?F?F?RvV???v?6?7W'fW??b?&V??B?B?G26?V?FW''B????'F?W&??&V??B??fR&VV?fW'?7F?fR??&???F??rF?R6??6WB?bvV?&?2??B'Bg&??7W?'F??rF?R&V7'V?F?V?B?bvV???v?7G2?????BvV?&?w&?Wv2W7F&?6?VBF?&VR?V'2v??F??2w&?W?2?V?B??V?6??fW&V?6W2B7F?&???B???6?&R??BF?R?FW7B?VWF??rv2?V?BBF?R?WFF??"6V?G&R??WFW'6'W&r?44?T?4R5???77VRCrvR#P??D??6?W&6R&6??fR??