I am a coastal geomorphologist physical geographer environmental scientist, interested in wind-blown sand transport studies and the physical processes of beach-dune environments.I use my knowledge to feed into different levels of coastal decision-making, with a focus on climate change adaptation along our coasts. I work with stakeholders and communities striving for a resilient future.

Aeolian sediment transport, coastal management, coastal processes, coastal risk, environmental sciences, geomorphology, GIS, physical geography, remote sensing, climate change adaptation, Nature-based Solutions.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Title: Coastal Monitoring and Adaptation Planning (CMAP)

2025-2029, €9.6 million project led by Ulster University and funded by the PEACEPLUS programme.

The project will help to create sustainable adaptation to the threats posed by climate change. The Irish coast is facing a combined climate and biodiversity crisis with species loss, impacts from rising sea levels and increased storm activity causing erosion challenges and reducing resilience of our coasts.

The project will help interweave local action and citizen science at a range of 15 coastal sites on the island of Ireland to tackle the effects of climate change.

Funder: SEUPB

Title: Beaches and Dunes 2025-26: Capacity building for NbS

In the era of accelerating coastal erosion the project is empowering stakeholders across 17 of Ireland’s coastal communities to implement sustainable, nature-based solutions and community stewardship for climate resilient dune management.

Funder: SSE Airtricity

SDGs DG13.1; SDG13.3

Title: Grattan Beach Living Lab

We are working on developing Grattan Beach as a Nature-based Solutions, Living Lab. Grattan Beach is used by the Geography Dept and the National Aquarium to bring learn by doing to students and the Public - No restriction. This project hopes to build a more robust educational infrastructure, that will also double as a visitor attraction for Galway City, contributing to: actions on climate change, biodiversity and community engagement; a long term plan for seaweed & blowing sand management; make space for biodiversity and recreation use.

Collaborators: Galway Atlantaquaria, Galway City Council, Local Communities

SDG11.3.2; SDG11.5.3; SDG13.3; SDG14.2

Title: Bertra Stewardship Project & Bertra Connected

Bertra dunes have been under severe threat of erosion for over a decade. In 2018, the Murrisk Development Association, the Geography Dept and Mayo CoCo came together to work on the problem. This project in 2022 built on this work to develop a co-produced Vision for Bertra’s future in 2050: to have a healthy habitat that provides benefits, recreation and storm protection, while allowing the beach and dunes to function naturally.

Funder: Heritage Council & collaborators staff time

Collaborators: Mayo County Council, Murrisk Development Association, Leave No Trace, Climate Action Regional Office, Clean Coasts

SDGs SDG13.1; SDG14.2

Title: National Dune Website

This is the go-to place for all sand dune information and resources to take action in the sustainable management and planning of Ireland’s sand dune heritage

https://dunes.ie/

SDGs SDG13.3; SDG14.2

Title: National Dune Campaign

SDGs SDG13.3; SDG14.2

Title: I Like Beaches - Grattan

https://www.facebook.com/ILikeBeachesGalway

SDGs SDG11.3.2; SDG11.5.3; SDG13.3; SDG14.2

Title: A National Dune Inventory for Ireland

We aim to create a simple list of all of our sand dune systems, and map their location. This information is available in various forms, but not complete, simple, shareable format.

SDGs SDG13.1; SDG13.2

Title: 3Ss Concept, Development & Field Classes

For communicating complex socio-ecological sand dune processes to kids and council engineers alike.

All you need for healthy beaches & dunes: the 3Ss

https://ilikedunes.wixsite.com/ilikedunes/post/all-you-need-for-healthy-beaches-dunes-the-3ss

Lesson Plans for school beach trips

https://ilikedunes.wixsite.com/ilikedunes/post/lesson-plans-for-school-beach-trips

SDGs SDG13.3; SDG14.2

COMPLETED RESEARCH PROJECTS

Title: Beaches & Dunes for Climate Adaptation 2024: Training for Communities

This project focused on training for community groups on how to best utilise beaches and dunes as a coastal protection option. Hands-on learning will equip participants with the skills and know-how to enhance their local beach-dune habitats as a resilient, long-term solution to coastal flooding and erosion.

Funder: Pobal Community Fund

Collaborators: Achill ETB, Leave No Trace, Climate Action Regional Office

SDGs DG13.1; SDG13.3

AELCLIC (Adaptation of European Landscapes to Climate Change) funded through EU Pathfinder programme.

Coastal Flooding and Erosion: Post-Storm Recovery of Beach-Dune Systems in Ireland

(The Maharees, Castlegregory, Co. Kerry).

Funded by Office of Public Works

From Source-To-Sink: The response of coastal catchment ecosystems to large perturbations (Keel, Achill Island, Co.Mayo) Funding by EPA,

Atlantic Network for Coastal Risk Management (ANCORIM) funded by INTERREG IV - Atlantic Area Transnational programme.

MSc: TI 6148 Coast Geomorphology : TI 6109 Research Project

BSc & BA: TI 303 Coastal Dynamics : TI 363 Research Seminar in Geography : TI 3103: Research Seminar in Beach Dune Dynamics : TI 251 & TI 252 Theory and Practice in Geography : TI 335 Research Project Design and Development