All-Ireland soil survey ends on Cork's Mizen Head

The final sample of a 13-year all-island soil survey has been collected by geologists on Ireland’s southernmost point, Mizen Head, in County Cork.

The last sample of the Tellus survey, being conducted by Geological Survey Ireland, was collected on the West Cork peninsula in July and ends work that began in Ireland’s southern counties in 2011. 

The Northern Ireland work was completed in 2006.

Teams of samplers have been covering thousands of hectares, travelling through fields, bogs, and over mountains to collect more than 42,000 samples of soil from 20,660 locations.

Samples were taken every 4km2 on a regular grid, ensuring all types of soil, as part of the national survey. 

Samples were also collected within urban locations every 500m2. 

The samples are sent to a laboratory for the chemistry of the soil to be analysed.

Viability

This helps to provide information on the variability of soils in different regions. The data is also being used by Geological Survey Ireland, as well as Teagasc, the EPA, and researchers to map soil for agricultural, environmental, health and geological benefits.

Secretary general of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Oonagh Buckley, described the work, since the first samples were collected in Donegal, as an “immense effort over many years”.

“It is great that it is finishing up here on Mizen Head, in County Cork, overlooking the sea, because this sample will mean that Ireland will be one of the best geochemically mapped countries in the world,” said Ms Buckley.

“This is a hugely significant moment for Ireland, as we will have better scientific data to help make decisions on how we best manage our soils.

“We will be making this data freely available, and I look forward to seeing it support research in a variety of areas.”

Final geochemical data from the Tellus survey is currently available for more than 50% of the country, with more data being released over the coming months and years. Once all the data has been released, it will be used to deliver positive economic, environmental, and agricultural benefits.