Field Trip Report - IAH Ireland

IAH (IRISH GROUP) ANNUAL FIELDTRIP:
“THE KARST LIMESTONE AQUIFERS IN COUNTY CORK”
27 TH - 28 TH MAY 2000
Report by Morgan Burke
The annual IAH (Irish Group) fieldtrip weekend was held in May and visited the Munster
Syncline region of Cork. The trip was led by Geoff Wright of the Groundwater Section, GSI.
A total of 25 people attended the trip.
The first stop on Saturday morning was Carrigtwohill limestone quarry where there was
discussion on the reef limestones and the dewatering of the quarry. This amounts to
16,000m 3 /d which is partially used as a groundwater supply. A second limestone quarry was
visited at Carrigacrump which contains the remnants of what was once one of the best cave
systems in east Cork. While much of the cave system has been quarried, it was still possible
to examine some of the smaller caverns and karst features developed in the limestone.
The Dower Spring (yielding 6800m 3 /d) and other karst springs and swallow holes were
visited at a number of locations including Water Rock House, Shanagarry and Poulnahorka.
There was also time to visit the water supply schemes of both Cloyne-Aghada and
Dungarvan-Ballynamuck. Eugene Daly informed the group that the Dungarvan-Ballynamuck
supply was the highest known yield recorded for a borehole in Ireland (13,000m 3 /d or 2.5
million gpd).
The National Energy Centre at the Spa House, Mallow was visited on the Sunday morning.
The Energy Centre was introduced by Alex Grassick and Colette Cronin spoke of the
hydrogeology of the Mallow Springs and the geology of the surrounding region. There are 6
warm springs in Munster, the largest of which is Lady's well which is located adjacent to the
Spa House. The average temperature of this warm spring is 22ºC which is ten degrees higher
than most Irish springs.
For the final stop of the weekend the group headed underground to visit the wonderful
Mitchelstown Caves. A tour guide led us through 3 large caverns each decorated with good
examples of stalagmites and stalactites and other speleothem formations.
The IAH would like to thank Geoff Wright for leading the trip and all who attended the
weekend. It was a superb weekend and a good opportunity to visit some of the karst features
and warm springs of the picturesque Munster Synclines.

3. IAH (Irish Group) and Teagasc Seminar, 22 nd -23 rd September 2000
Title of seminar -
Venue -
Jointly presented by -
Attended by -
"Groundwater & Agricultural Practices"
Johnstown Castle, Wexford.
IAH (Irish Group) and Teagasc
44 delegates
NAME
Bruce Misstear
Bruno Teillard
Cecil Shine
Cecilia Gately
Conor Clenaghan
Conrad Wilson
Coran Kelly
Criona Doyle
Dan Morton
David Smith
Debbie Williams
Derval Dervaney
Donal Daly
Donal Marron
Gareth Kilroy
Geoff Wright
Gwen Terras
Helen Walsh
John Bennett
John McEntagert
Karl Richards
Kevin Motherway
Kieran O'Brien
Laura Fehily
Liam O'Suilleabhain
Malcolm Doak
Malcolm Dowling
Margaret Keegan
Marie O'Connor
Mark Conroy
Melissa Swartz
Monica Lee
Morgan Burke
Patrice Crawley
Patrick Byrne
Ruth Barrington
Ruth Buckley
Sarah Casey
Sean Moran
Sean O'Donoghue
Tara Higgins
ORGANISATION
Trinity College Dublin
Eugene Daly & Associates
Minerex Environmental Ltd.
Geological Survey of Ireland
Environmental Protection Agency
M.C. O'Sullivan
Geological Survey of Ireland
M.C. O'Sullivan
Minerex Environmental Ltd.
Environmental Protection Agency
Geological Survey of Ireland
Environmental Protection Agency
Geological Survey of Ireland
K.T. Cullen & Co. Ltd.
Trinity College Dublin
Geological Survey of Ireland
M.C. O'Sullivan
Environmental Protection Agency
M.C. O'Sullivan
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Geological Survey of Ireland
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Fehily Timoney
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Tobin Environmental Services
Geological Survey of Ireland
Geological Survey of Ireland
Minerex environmental Ltd.
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Geological Survey of Ireland
Shane Bennett & Co.
O'Callaghan Moran & Associates
Environmental Protection Agency
Trinity College Dublin

Tony Dolan
Vincent Fitzimons
Yvonne Cannon
Environmental Protection Agency
Geological Survey of Ireland
Geological Survey of Ireland
IAH (Irish Group) and Teagasc Seminar on "Groundwater & Agricultural Practices",
Johnstown castle, Wexford, 22 nd & 23 rd September 2000.
A joint IAH (Irish Group) and Teagasc seminar entitled "Groundwater & Agricultural
Practices" was held at Johnstown Castle, Wexford on the 22 nd and 23 rd September 2000. The
objective of the course was to review agricultural practices and topics relevant to
hydrogeology, for example, landspreading of manures and nitrate issues. The event was well
attended with 44 delegates representing the Geological Survey of Ireland, the Environmental
Protection Agency, Teagasc, Trinity College and various hydrogeological and engineering
consultancies, registering for the first day.
Following the welcoming address by John Lee, Head of Research at Teagasc, Sean O'Regan,
Teagasc Chief Environmental Advisor, spoke about farmyard pollution and grant aid to
farmers to reduce pollution. ………………..After this presentation the remainder of the first
day of the seminar was spent in the field visiting the various Teagasc experiment facilities.
The field based activities were led by Owen Carton and other Teagasc personnel.
The first stop was a demonstration of landspreading where the traditional splash plate
spreading technique was compared with the more recent band spreading method. Owen
Carton explained that 50-60% nitrogen is lost to the atmosphere using the splash plate
technique and 20-40% is lost with the band spread methodology. Odour from landspreading
is reduced with the band spread technique. ……………………………..
Aidan Fanning described a lysimeter experiment involving 5 different soil types representing
the principal soils in the country. Application of fertilisers to these soils in January resulted in
nitrate levels exceeding the MAC for all of the soil types but the peaks were higher for the
free draining soils………………. Following this presentation, the group visited a milking
parlour at the Teagasc Dairy Farm and examined dirty water control and spreading of dirty
water.
After lunch Sean Diamond described soil moisture measurements using tensiometers with
data loggers. Sean also explained the measurement of infiltration rates using double ring
infiltrometers. The group then visited the Teagasc Organic Farm where Noel Culleton hosted
a discussion on organic farming and constructed wetlands. At the next site Pamela Bartley
described her research on nitrate leaching to groundwater from grasslands. Results to date
suggest acceptable nitrate levels in the groundwater resources underlying the application
areas. The final stop of the day was a demonstration of describing subsoils using the BS5930
standard by Vincent Fitzsimons and Melissa Swartz of the GSI.
A presentation session was held on the second day in the EPA lecture theatre with speakers
from Teagasc, EPA and the IAH. Donal Daly of the GSI discussed groundwater vulnerability
and protection issues followed by a presentation on soil hydrology and soil water regimes by
Sean Diamond of Teagasc. Dave McGrath of Teagasc spoke about pesticides in Irish soils
and Karl Richards of the EPA discussed agricultural nitrate and phosphorous in the
environment.
The second half of the presentation session focused on landspreading issues. Vera Power of
the EPA discussed the evaluation of groundwater protection assessment for landspreading
from the EPA's perspective. The preparation of Environmental Impact Statements for
landspreading proposals was discussed by Mark Conroy of Tobin Environmental Services and

Donal Marron of K.T. Cullen & Co. Mark focused on the hydrogeological and hydrological
assessment of organic waste landbanks and Donal discussed nutrient management plans for
landspreading of waste.
The presentation session provided an excellent forum for discussion of the relevant issues
raised during the two-day seminar. The IAH would like to thank all of the speakers and the
Teagasc personnel who described the various research experiments at Johnstown Castle,
especially Owen Carton who led the field activities. We also thank all the delegates who
attended the seminar and Teagasc and the EPA for hosting the event.
Morgan Burke, IAH (Irish Group) Fieldtrip Secretary.