Scientists at University College Cork are inviting the public to take part in The Great Irish Fossil Hunt – a nationwide campaign to uncover Ireland’s hidden fossil treasures.
The Great Irish Fossil Hunt is asking members of the public who find any fossils to take a picture and send it to the UCC research team. Your discovery could help build a comprehensive fossil map of Ireland, which will be unveiled at a major Fossil Expo during Science Week later this year.
The campaign is part of the Ireland’s Fossil Heritage programme.
What do I have to do?
The team are asking members of the public to find fossils in natural and urban outdoor settings across the island of Ireland. When you find a fossil:
1. Take a photograph (ideally with a coin for scale)
2. Go to the campaign website
3. Upload your photograph
4. Enter your details – your name, email address, and the location where the photograph was taken .
Where can I find fossils?
You can find fossils in rocks in natural settings and in urban areas. The best place to look for fossils is in rocky outcrops at the beach, but you can also find fossils in rocks in fields and mountains; even the stones in stone walls can have fossils. In urban areas, you can find fossils in building stones used in footpaths, walls, gutters, pillars, benches, etc. Not all rocks contain fossils – only sedimentary rocks such as sandstone, limestone and mudstone contain fossils. Other rocks, such as granite and marble, don’t preserve fossils!
The closing date for submissions is 31st August 2025.
For further details, and to submit your fossil find, click here.