News

Business Post covers Geoscience

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Geoscience was covered in a 2 page feature in the Business Post on Sunday 26th October .  The articles on Geoscience Ireland and five of its key members show the importance of geoscience for infrastructure, understanding of ground conditions, water and minerals resources, construction, land remediation and sustainability.  Impressive case studies were provided by TOBIN, Fehilly Timoney, FLI Group, Geo Drilling Solutions and iCRAG . The feature recognises the support of Geological Survey Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The feature  included coverage of the recent TCI Global Conference in Dublin,  which in turn outlined some of Ireland’s  policy initiatives on cluster development. Ireland has some way to go to match the impact of other European clusters  which show marked improvements in productivity and revenue resulting from collaboration – all elements of Geoscience Ireland’s impact.

Minister for Enterprise Tourism and Employment Peter Burke at the TCI event indicated that the focus initially is on Cyber and Advanced Construction Materials. We await with interest further information on policy which we believe should recognise and include existing successful sectors.

To see the detailed articles, visit The ground beneath our feet | Business Post ; add the individual company name to the Search bar to access.

 

Geoscience Ireland (GI) Members Contribute to Oireachtas Cte on Infrastructure

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The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Infrastructure and the National Development Plan heard submissions on 8 October  in Leinster House from the Irish Academy of Engineering (IAE); Engineers Ireland and the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI) .

Geoscience Ireland (GI) Director Sean Finlay along with GI members EGIS and ARUP appeared on behalf of IAE while GI member TOBIN joined the ACEI delegation. The interactive session heard proposals for the removal of barriers to infrastructure delivery; the need for multi-annual funding; skills development and a greater emphasis on the common good.

GI members are at the forefront of infrastructure delivery in Ireland and internationally in multiple sectors including natural resources, water, transport and renewable energy.

Geoscience Ireland Co-Sponsors Minerals Conference

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Geoscience Ireland (GI) was pleased to co- sponsor a Conference on Signs of Revival in Ireland’s Natural Resources. Held in Mullingar Co Westmeath on 19th September, the Conference was co hosted by the Irish Association for Economic Geology (IAEG) and the Irish Mining and Quarrying Society(IMQS) .

The Keynote Address by Darragh O’Brien TD ,  Minister  for Climate, Energy and Environment  (DCEE), reiterated the importance of developing Ireland’s natural resources in a responsible and sustainable way. He noted the commitment of DCEE to its line division Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) in supporting research to ensure  the quality of aggregates; involvement in the EU’s Critical Raw Materials programmes;  reuse of construction and demolition waste (C&D) and remediation of historic mine sites- topics outlined further by speakers from GSI and the Geoscience Policy Division .

The well attended Conference heard presentations on the mining sector e.g. the reopening of the Galmoy zinc lead mine; the emergence of an Irish Minerals Fund ; the unfortunate delays experienced by the Dalradian Project in Northern Ireland ; promising exploration projects by Group 11 , Conroy and Minco; R&D undeway by iCRAG; Geotechnical Safety in Quarries and  C&D waste categorisation. GI was well represented by members ARUP, APEX, AURUM, BRG,  and SLR (all co-sponsors) alongside  Roadstone, TOBIN, Priority Drilling, GSI and iCRAG.

In Closing Remarks to the Conference, GI Director and an IMQS  member of the Conference Committee Sean Finlay said;

” The resumption of operations at Tara Mines; the reopening of the Galmoy mine; the award of planning permission  for the expansion of Gyproc’s  mine and continued operations at Irish Salt’s mine are all positive developments for the sector. While overall exploration activity is subdued, there are advanced projects emerging with great promise. The joint IAEG-IMQS Conference echoes similar events held at Canada’s PDAC in previous years, showcasing achievements 0f  the minerals sector in Ireland. IMQS is indebted to IAEG for its strong support for the Conference. ”

Photo shows from left; Miller O’Prey (President IAEG) , Ruairi O Connor (President IMQS) ; Noleen Fox (IAEG), Brendan Morris (IMQS), Graham Reid (IAEG) , Sean Finlay (IMQS) and Zoe Brown (IAEG)

Ireland Pakistan MoU

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Geoscience Ireland (GI) is pleased to announce a Memorandum of Understanding  with Capital Strategies Group (CSG) of Pakistan, enabling them to collaborate in development opportunities in the minerals resources sector.

CSG, established in 2003, is an engineering services provider for energy , construction and natural resources projects. GI and CSG will collaborate in exchanging information with a view to developing supply chains in relation to minerals projects in Pakistan.

GI Director Sean Finlay commented;

“ Having worked in Pakistan , GI and its members are well aware of the significant potential the country holds for the discovery and development of critical raw materials and of strategic minerals and we look forward to developing a relationship with CSG in pursuit of opportunities. “

CSG Chief Operating Officer Zain Kazmi noted;

“We at CSG are extremely excited to collaborate with Geoscience Ireland in order to bring Irish expertise to Pakistan in the field of exploration, mining, processing and supply chain enhancement. We believe that Pakistan can play a critical role in the global mineral ecosystem and will serve as a vital partner in creating new mineral opportunities and strengthening critical minerals supply chain“

 

GI Advisory Board  Member joins EU-Vietnam Cooperation Facility

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Geoscience Ireland (GI) Advisory Board  member appointed Team Leader of the EU-Vietnam Cooperation Facility

The EU-Vietnam Cooperation Facility is a new project for financing small-scale project cycle management (PCM) and policy dialogue activities based in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.

The project supports the design and implementation of programmes and priorities to support the implementation of the Vietnam 2021-2027 Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP 2021-2027) and will address important issues for the country, while promoting key areas of EU external engagement including in areas related to higher education, reseach and innovation (R&I), science, techology, innovation and digital transformation (STID), technical vocational education and training (TVET), the circular economy/value chains, good governance and institutional reforms.

The project is being led by Trevor O’Regan, who is a member of the Advisory Board of GI and who has previously spoken at a number of IFI events in Dublin with GI Director Sean Finlay.

Trevor, based in Hanoi implementing the new Facility since last November, works closely with the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam. He is a Director of Economic Development Consultants Ireland (EDCI), and clients include the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Inter-American Development Bank, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI) and USAID previously.

For more information, Trevor can be contacted at: TrevorEDCI@outlook.com

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Recovery in Ireland’s Minerals Rankings

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The annual Fraser Institute Mining Survey shows that Ireland’s rankings have improved across a number of measures in 2024.

The Republic of Ireland now ranks 1st out of 82 on the Policy Perception Index, a composite index that measures the effects of government policy on attitudes toward exploration investment (ranked 15th in 2023).  Ireland ranks 19th out of 82 in the Investment Attractiveness Index which combines the Mineral Potential Index, which rates regions based on their geologic attractiveness, and the Policy Perception Index.

Ireland also scored well for Quality of Geological Databases; less so for Uncertainty on Environmental Regulations.

Northern Ireland had less than 10 respondents to the Survey; it  scored 10th   on Policy  and 30th  on Attractiveness but  scores well on Infrastructure and Databases.

Commenting on the results , Geoscience Ireland Director Sean Finlay said;

” The recent Fraser Institute Survey results show a revival in confidence in Ireland’s minerals sector- a very welcome development given that exploration activity is muted, as measured by the number of active State Prospecting Licences. Other signs of recovery  are the reopening of the Galmoy zinc lead mine; the resumption of operations at Boliden Tara Mines  and the expansion of Gyproc’s gypsum mine. 

The Minerals sector will be the focus of a Seminar hosted by the Irish Association for Economic Geology and the Irish Mining and Quarrying Society  on 19 September in  Mullingar. see https://iaeg.ie/event-6248868 ”

Full details of the Fraser Institute Survey are to be found at  https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/annual-survey-mining-companies-2024.

 

 

 

 

FLI Precast Turns Power Plant Byproduct into Low Carbon Innovation

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Project From Ashes to Concrete: Trinity College Dublin and FLI Precast Solutions Turn Power Plant Byproduct  into Low-Carbon Innovation

 
Date

 

 June  2025
Location

 

 FLI Precast, Co. Carlow
Partners

 

 Construct Innovate, Bord na Mona
Business Sectors

 

 Precast Concrete Manufacturing
Services (Technical Disciplines)

 

 Concrete Science and Manufacturing
Project Objectives/ Outcomes

 

 
  • Utilize biomass ash as a resource:
    Transform the biomass ash byproduct from Edenderry Power Station into a valuable material for concrete production.
  •  Reduce carbon emissions in concrete production:
    Develop low-carbon and carbon-free concrete alternatives by:

·       Partially replacing Portland cement with biomass ash.

·       Completely eliminating Portland cement through geopolymerization using biomass ash and metallurgical slag.

  •  Demonstrate performance and scalability:
    Ensure that the newly developed concrete solutions maintain high performance while achieving up to 51% reduction in carbon emissions, making them practical and scalable for real-world construction.
  • Support Ireland’s carbon neutrality and circular economy goals:
    Align with national sustainability targets by promoting circular economy practices—reusing industrial byproducts in construction—and reducing reliance on high-carbon materials.
  • Foster industry collaboration and adoption:
    Partner with FLI Precast Solutions and other industry stakeholders to pilot, refine, and expand the use of this sustainable concrete technology across Ireland’s construction sector.
  • Advance sustainable construction innovation:
    Set a new benchmark for eco-friendly construction materials and encourage broader adoption of greener technologies through research, development, and demonstration.

 
Our Role

 

 ·       Collaboration on research and development:
FLI Precast worked closely with Construct Innovate and Trinity College Dublin researchers to test and apply the biomass ash-based concrete formulations in real precast concrete products.·       Providing industry expertise and validation:
As a specialist in precast concrete, FLI Precast helped ensure that the developed materials met practical performance standards and could be integrated into existing manufacturing processes.·        Supporting sustainability goals:
The company aligned its corporate vision with the project’s aims by actively participating in the development of sustainable, low-carbon concrete solutions. Their involvement demonstrated a commitment to environmental responsibility and innovation.·       Enabling real-world implementation:
FLI Precast’s participation helped bridge the gap between laboratory research and market-ready products, contributing to the project’s success in demonstrating scalability and practical feasibility. 
Geoscience Ireland Contact

 

 Luke O’Connor

loconnor@flipreacst.com

Photo shows

FLI Precast Manufacturing Facility, Co. Carlow, Group photo with production team, Sara Pavia & Dr. Zehao Lei (Trinity College Professor and Phd student), David McDonnell (Batching & Lab Manager, FLI Precast) & Luke O’Connor (FLI Precast Chartered Structural Engineer)

 

Advanced Drilling Technology Demonstration by Priority in Laos

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Zero Trip technology was developed by Priority Drilling Ltd ( a Geoscience Ireland member) and its international deployment   continues. .

Last week Zero Trip personnel visited Laos with Boart Longyear to provide  five days training their drill staff on the installation of the Zero Trip wedge.

Commenting on the visit, Priority’s Corey McCarthy said;

“It was an incredible experience to see drilling operations in action across Southeast Asia and to share our knowledge of directional drilling with such a skilled and welcoming team.

A huge thank you to Wayne Roberts and the entire Boart Longyear Laos team for the opportunity, and to Tommy Prior for taking such great care of us throughout the trip.

We’re excited for what’s ahead and look forward to continuing our partnership hopefully returning again soon!”

Minerex Drilling Joins Geoscience Ireland (GI)

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Geoscience Ireland (GI) is delighted to welcome Minerex Drilling Contractors as a member.

Based in Accra Ghana, Minerex is a well established drilling contractor with experience in minerals projects throughout West Africa with offices in Senegal, Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Founded in 1981 by Irish minerals developer the late Noel Kiernan, Minerex has been the lead drilling contractor for a number of major gold mines in Ghana, including Obuasi for Anglogold Ashanti, Teberebie and Wassa for Irish based Glencar Mining and many more. Services provided are overburden sampling, reverse circulation, RAB and diamond drilling to depths in excess of 1000m. Highly skilled drillers and fitters are trained to operate to the highest environmental and safety standards.

Commenting on the development, GI’s Sean Finlay said;

“Minerex is an excellent example of a key component of the supply chain to the minerals industry. Established by Irish entrepreneurs, Minerex remains committed to serving the sector throughout West Africa under the leadership of Brian Kiernan and Lazlo Toth. See www.minerex.com”

Ronan O ‘Toole Joins Geoscience Ireland (GI) Panel of Experts

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Geoscience Ireland (GI) is pleased to welcome Ronan O’ Toole, an experienced Chartered Marine Technologist to its Panel of Independent Experts. 

A graduate in Geology from the University of Galway with a MSc from Cranfiled University in Renewable Energy, Ronan  has been a leader in  marine data acquisition and marine spatial planning.

Having worked for Geological Survey Ireland on several marine projects  including INFOMAR, CHERISH, EMODnet and Coastal Erosion, he went on to become CTO with  Ondine Ltd, responsible for Design and implementation of IT and Data Management strategy. Prokjects included  the mobilization and operation of R.V. Kommandor Iona,Ondine Jule, Ondine Aer and Ondine Data Centre infrastructures;Oversight and delivery of Lir Offshore Array Geophysical Survey; Management and delivery of data products for Northland Power’s Spiorad na Mara (SnM) OWF survey (ECR and Array surveys);Enhanced delivery of UXO certification in support of Geotechnical drilling operations leveraging Starlink data transfer for enhanced  project timelines; Data Management for GTEC Thistle Wind Power ECR surveys, Scotland 2023. and development of AI image screening process for ornithological survey works. Ondine also joined the  DECC framework for the provision of legacy marine data in support of national ORE Development activity.

More recently Ronan  has been providing knowledge and support for the ORE and Marine Geophysical Survey sector with a focus on the deployment of efficient ICT and Data management solutions, integration of multiple data streams and management workflows for the acquisition, processing and delivery of high quality marine geophysical data products. Clients include  the  Marine Institute: Survey Planning and Data Strategy Implementation for 2D Multichannel Ultra High-Resolution Seismic survey campaign within the South Coast DMAP, in Support of DECC’s ORESS 2.1 Auction. Tonn Nua campaign completed and delivered in 2024. He is currently engaged in planning for the completion of Lí Ban 2D MCUHRS survey in SC-DMAP along with longer term strategy
development.

Ronan  has been at the forefront of developing UAV technolgy for the Marine sector , having been awarded a Geoscience Short Call Funding for the Development of UAV SOPS and operational capacity build for GSI. He was awarded an Innovation Voucher from Enterprise Ireland for the development of remote support services based on Google Glass with INSIGHT Centre for data Analytics at DCU.

Ronan is a Registered Member of the Institute of Marine Science Engineering and Technology (IMarEST) as a Chartered Marine Technologist (CMarTech). He is Secretary of the Dublin Branch of IMarEST.

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