Ireland's Future

 Millions of years of gradual change as well as occasional catastrophic events have formed Ireland's unique landscape.  Uniformitarianism dictates that the same actions that have shaped the present landscape will continue to act on the island in a never ending system.  The most recent ice ages covered Ireland with glaciers and the lasting effect can be seen by the classic irregular rolling hills, drumlins, and what is left of the Scandinavian mountains that were formed in the north before the breakup of Pangea.

Drumlin formed by glaciers acting on unconsolidated till in Norther Ireland 

The mild temperature and consistan rains are a result of Irelands' current position at about 53degrees north latitude, just below the cold polar easterlies but within the powerful North Atlantic Current which brings warm air and water to the region.

Ireland in 1000 Years

Because Ireland is largely made up of limestone, in 1000 years it is likely that a great deal of weathering will occur.  The iconic rocky cliffs that make up its coastline will crumble due to corrosion from sea water and the size of the island will shrink.  1000 years is a long time, but in the perspective of geologic time is practically nothing and although there will be changes Ireland will be recognizable to the form it is today.

the Cliffs of Moher are made out of limestone  chemical weathering  

Ireland in 10,000 Years

The the divergent plate boundary where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet is slowly expanding along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.  This spreading is pushing Ireland north at a rate of about 5cm  every year.  This spreading will force Ireland out of the northern temperate zone and closer to the Arctic circle.

Ireland In 1,000,000 Years

A million years from now Ireland will likely be unrecognizable to anyone who knows it today.  The combination of weathering and tectonic plate movement will push what is left of the island north into the arctic circle and east into the european land mass.