This participatory mapping project looks at socio-culturally important areas within Cuilcagh-Anierin Uplands (CAU). CAU is located in the northwest of Ireland. Forty-two Irish residents, living within 50 km of CAU, contributed.
Where did locals create points?
Three map activities represented important areas. Map 1 was about a sense of connection, Map 2 pertained to socio-cultural areas, and Map 3 related to landscape decisions.
Map 1 – Places of Connection
Map 1 asked participants to select 0 – 5 places where they feel a strong sense of connection.
Map 2 – Socio-Cultural Importance
Map 2 asked participants to select 0 – 5 places that hold particular cultural or social importance.
Map 3 – Landscape Decisions
Map 3 asked participants to consider various forms of human-initiated landscape decisions (e.g. preservation of current status, tourism development, rewilding, agricultural expansion, peatland restoration, recreational development, etc.), then select 0 – 5 areas of interest and comment on their desire for the selected area.
Who participated?
Adult residents of the Republic of Ireland were invited. CAU borders Northern Ireland, although, due to resource constraints, residents of Northern Ireland were not included.
Subgroups include locals’ Role within CAU, Gender, and Age. Exposure describes how much time one spends within CAU per year, and Family Roots relates to how long one’s family has been in the area.
Most participants were males and/or have deep family roots, arriving in the area at or earlier than their Great-great-great grandparents.
What Locals Had to Say
Some participants left comments with their map points. The most frequently used words are shown, from Map 1 – Connection, Map 2 – Socio-Cultural Importance, and Map 3 – Landscape Decisions.
Walking was the most common theme, in Map 2 and for all maps combined.
Environmental Values
Participants supported intrinsic values (e.g. Nature deserves to be healthy) over relational values (e.g. Nature is important because it strengthens our community). The instrumental (e.g. Nature is important because it benefits people) value median was slightly lower than the intrinsic median.
Relational Value (RV), Intrinsic Value (IC), and Instrumental Value (IM)
The two most-supported value statements were Nature is valuable for its own sake and Ecosystems have the right to exist. The two least-supported statements were Plants and animals are important because they can teach people many lessons and Nature is important because it provides us with food and water.
Connection
Locals were asked which image best describes their relationship with the uplands. Image 3 was the most selected overall.
Farmers had greater connectedness compared to non-farmers.
Mountain Slopes
Map points of Females and Non-farmers favoured steeper areas.
Considering how often comments mentioned walking, steeper areas likely pertain to mountain trails.
Commonage and Freehold Land
Locals points were twice as likely to be in commonage areas compared to freehold, with respect to their area difference.
Dúchas Markers
Ireland’s National Folklore Collection shows 3 markers within CAU. Major story themes involve the Tuatha de Danann, the creation of Lough Allen and Sliabh an Iarainn, holly forests that hid priests during the Penal Days, and stories about a former Druid place of worship, the Polltaí Hole, where Garland Sunday came to be celebrated (Dúchas, 2026).
Local points were around 1.8 times closer to Dúchas markers, compared to random test points.
Pre-defined Markers
Locals rated pre-defined markers. The top sites are listed below.
Nearly 50% of participants rated Mullaghgarve Mass Rock.
Further Research
This work accompanies a thesis submission at the University of College Dublin, for a MSci in Environmental Sustainability. This link will be provided in Fall 2026.
Go raibh maith agaibh
To all participants, warm thanks to you. If you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out erinchristinebell (at) gmail (dot) com.
erin christine bell 