Conference to ask ‘where does Dingle tourism go from here’

THE organisers of a major international conference on the coastal environment of the west of Ireland plan to discuss and share the best thinking on the threats to our coast caused by climate change, tourism and over-development.

The conference, which will take place in Dingle in early June, will bring together scholars and practitioners who all have a primary interest in the coastal environment to discuss subjects from coastal erosion to sustainable tourism.

Experts from different areas will discuss our relationship with the environment historically, at present and into the future. The conference is designed to be different, according to conference organiser Professor John Roney of SHU. “Scientists normally attend specialist conferences, and hear people speaking from a similar perspective. With this conference we are bringing together scholars from various disciplines, all concentrating on the one area, and because of this it is hoped to develop new ideas for sustainable development of our coastal communities,” he said.

The ‘Sea, Land and Spirit’ conference, which will examine the areas of the marine, agriculture and culture, is being organised against the backdrop of what Prof. Roney describes as “a marked increase in the number of tourists in the West Kerry area”.

Dingle is still “small enough to be very friendly” and the Dingle Peninsula is a great place to visit, but that it is on a tipping point and unless concerted action is taken the impact of increasing numbers of tourists will interfere irreversibly with the natural environment on which the tourism industry depends, Prof Roney said.

Professor Mark Beekey, co-organiser, raises the question: “How much does the area want to grow, how important is culture, and the fact that more economic growth can effect the natural environment?”

The conference, which will address the issue of sustainable development, follows on from the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Sacred Heart University and UCC and demonstrates the long term commitment that SHU has to Dingle. The American professors know that “it will take time to develop a sustainable way forward, but when it is done, it can be used to inform development in other coastal towns”

The conference will present 65 papers, from American, European and Irish academics, in a wide ranging discussion of our relationship with the environment, past, present and future. The key note speech on Wednesday evening will be delivered by Dr. Poul Holm, Professor of Environmental History in Trinity College Dublin. In 2015 he was awarded an Advanced Grant of €2.5 million by the European Research Council. He and his team are currently researching the North Atlantic Fish Revolution from that occurred from 1400-1700, a time when climate change affected fishing and altered the economy of the Atlantic.

The four day conference will run from June 5 to June 8 in the Skellig Hotel. Local schools have been involved in a competition to design a poster based on the conference, with prizes awarded in under 8, under 10 and under 13 age categories. The posters will be on display at the Skellig Hotel.

Everyone is welcome to attend the conference with one day tickets available at €50, which includes lunch at the Skellig Hotel.

For further information visit the website at http://www.sacredheart.edu/academics/conferenceindinglecountykerryireland/.To register contact Sean Pól Ó Conchúir at 087 9692323/ email oconnors7@sacredheart.edu

Photo by Declan Malone Professor of History John Roney and Professor of Biology Mark Beekey of Sacred Heart University with Sr De Sales outside An Díseart on Sunday.