‘We're urging people to stop' – Tourists ‘damaging' popular Irish beauty spot warned over €35k bill from coins in cracks

The Irish Sun

6 days ago

THE National Trust in Co Antrim is urging for tourists to stop destroying a popular beauty spot by jamming coins into the cracks.
The Giant's Causeway is being damaged by
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Visitors are sticking coins into the cracks in the rocks at the Giants Causeway
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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It will cost more than €35,748 to remove all the coins
Credit: RTE
They have been wedged into the cracks of the basalt rock columns at the World Heritage Site.
The
When the coins rust, they expand - therefore putting pressure on the surrounding rock.
This causes it to strain and eventually crumble.
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According to the
Tourists are being urged to stop leaving coins at the site to stop the destruction of the rocks.
Dr Cliff Henry, National Trust nature engagement officer at the
He said: "We know that visitors really love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to this special landscape.
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"We know some may want to leave a token of their
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The British Geological Survey released a report that concluded that the coins put into the joints and cracks in the rock have a detrimental impact.
The impact on the basalt rock is both aesthetic and physical.
Dr Henry continued: "The report has found that fracturing and disintegration of the basalt rock adjacent to joints and cracks into which coins have been inserted is the result of the 'expansive delamination of the coins upon oxidation'.
"In other words, the coins are rusting, and expanding to three times their original thickness, which puts huge pressure on the surrounding rock causing it to crumble.
"Unsightly streaks of copper, nickel and iron oxides are also staining the stones where the coins are corroding."
'STOP THE DAMAGING PRACTICE'
The National Trust, partnered with Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust have hired specialists in stone conservation to remove as many of the coins as possible without causing further damage at ten test locations.
Dr Henry explained: "It is hoped that if visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice the problem can be solved.
"Many coins have a centre of one metal, with a thin coating of another. UK 'copper' coins, since 1992, have a steel core with only a thin layer of copper on the outside, while five, 10 and 20 pence pieces are nickel-plated steel.
"When coins start to corrode, the steel often corrodes faster and separates from the different metal of the outer layer. This delamination causes the basalt to flake.
"The coins here also have accelerated corrosion because they are often soaked in saltwater spray and the mixture of metals means they break down faster.
"We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive.
"We are appealing to visitors to help us protect the World Heritage Site by stopping the practice of inserting coins into the Causeway stones."
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The coins rust and then expand, damaging the rocks
Credit: Getty Images - Getty