The Giant’s Causeway, a famous natural wonder in Northern Ireland, is facing a unique problem. Visitors to the site have been leaving behind coins inserted into the iconic rocks, causing damage and erosion.
According to the National Trust, which cares for the site, this practice has increased significantly over the past decade. The organization is now asking visitors to keep their spare change in their pockets rather than leaving it behind as a memento.
Visitor Impact
Each year, hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals visit the Giant’s Causeway. However, only a small fraction leave behind unwanted items like coins. The worst-affected areas are:
- The Loom: 10ft-high leaning towers of rock that are slightly lighter in color than the iconic hexagonal black basalt at the point of the causeway.
Dr. Cliff Henry notes that people who see others putting coins in may copycat and take stones off to hammer them home, leading to chipping or breaking off pieces from other stones nearby.
Structural Risks
The damage caused by coins is not just aesthetic; it also poses structural risks:
- Rusting metal inside cracks causes expansion, leading to popping out corners.
- Iron oxide (rust) is leaching onto surrounding rocks, making them look unsightly.
A report by Geological Survey NI found that removing all remaining coinage could help prevent further damage. A specialist stonemason has started work removing around 10% of existing coinage so far without damaging any stones.
Call for Cooperation
"We need visitors’ cooperation," said Dr. Cliff Henry about preventing further damage at this historic site. "Removing all remaining coinage would be ideal, but we know this will be difficult," he added.
In addition to removing existing coinage, Dr. Henry recommends educating visitors about how they can help protect this natural wonder. "We need people not just to refrain from putting more money into these holes but also to tell others not to do it either," he said.
Geological Significance
The Giant’s Causeway was formed millions of years ago when volcanic activity created an area where lava cooled quickly on contact with seawater, resulting in unique rock formations known as columnar jointing.
It was designated as one of the seven wonders of Northern Ireland back in 2011 and attracts hundreds of thousands each year with its stunning scenery and rich history dating back over 60 million years.
This phenomenon occurs when magma cools rapidly beneath Earth’s surface before being ejected through volcanic vents during eruptions, resulting in large columns resembling giant pillars rising up out of the water.
Conclusion
The Giant’s Causeway faces significant challenges due to the unwanted items, such as coins, left by tourists, which cause irreparable harm both aesthetically and structurally. Education plays a key role alongside removal efforts currently underway, thanks to the dedicated team working tirelessly to ensure the preservation of this natural wonder for future generations.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
