The Copper Coast Geopark is a largely voluntary community organisation. It is a Company Limited by Guarantee, with Charitable Status.
The Board is made up of directors from the local community (Copper Coast Tourism Group) and from the Geological Survey of Ireland, Waterford County Council, Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland and University College Cork.
The Geopark has a part-time manager, Paula McCarthy, and geologist, Tina Keating. They are backed up by a local management team, several voluntary guides and workers from FAS and TUS.
The Geopark grew out of the Copper Coast Tourism Group which had been formed in 1997; our application to join the new European Geoparks Network was accepted in 2001. Substantial InterReg funding necessitated the forming of a limited company in 2004. That funding enabled among other things, the purchase of Tankardstown Mining Engine House and Monksland Church. Further funding from Leader has meant that we could do up the church building for use as a multi-purpose Geopark Centre and community facility, with a small cafe, shop, exhibition space and the possibility to use it for small seminars, courses and performances.