The Annual Sand Dune Gathering 2026 – “Your Story Your Coast” took place on 6 March 2026 at the University of Ulster Coleraine and the Portstewart Dunes, bringing together coastal experts, community groups and practitioners working to protect and restore Ireland’s dune systems. More than 100 people attended the networking event.
Among those attending was coastal ecologist Fidelma Maher from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and member of the Life Insular Project Team.
The day began with opening remarks from Sue O’Toole of the Climate Action Regional Office, who welcomed attendees and introduced Dr Eduardo Grotolli, coastal geomorphologist from the University of Ulster. Dr Grotolli presented the upcoming CMAP project, an initiative that will focus on coastal monitoring and management along the coastlines of Northern Ireland and Ireland.
A number of community groups from Donegal shared their experiences and local initiatives. Patricia Bradley from the Fanad Coastal Group spoke about community-led coastal stewardship in the Fanad area. Máire Ní Fhearraigh from Machaire Beo / Life on Machair discussed the importance of machair habitats and the role local communities play in protecting them.
Community gardeners Deirdre Brennan and another project participant outlined their involvement in collecting native wildflower seeds and growing them in their nurseries to support habitat restoration. Farmer Micki Rodgers also spoke about his participation in the Life on Machair project and how grazing practices on his land are helping to maintain and enhance machair biodiversity.
Later presentations highlighted coastal restoration work in Northern Ireland. Dr Gavin Grant, Marine and Coastal Engagement Officer with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s AONB and Geopark Team, discussed restoration efforts at Tyrella Beach. Dr Jade Bergman, Marine and Coastal Specialist with the National Trust for Northern Ireland, provided an overview of the organisation’s coastal conservation work and outlined her role in the forthcoming CMAP project.
In the afternoon, participants visited the dunes at Portstewart for a series of hands-on workshop sessions. Dr Kevin Lynch from the University of Galway led practical experiments on dune dynamics and monitoring techniques. Peter Rafferty from Leave No Trace Ireland delivered a talk about waste found on beaches, highlighting how long common items can take to break down, with materials such as glass bottles potentially lasting forever and plastic bottles taking up to a million years.
The field visit concluded with a talk from James Alego-Orr of the National Trust, who spoke about the dune system at Portstewart, the impacts of recreational activities on fragile habitats and the rare species that rely on these unique environments.
The Sand Dune Gathering provided an opportunity for researchers, conservation organisations, local authorities and community groups to exchange knowledge and strengthen collaboration in the protection of Ireland’s coastal dunes.
Further information is available at http://www.dunes.ie
