Latest news with #RestoreBallymacravenRiverAssociation
Agriland
27-04-2025
- General
- Agriland
Ennistymon Rivers Festival marks progress post major fish kill
Two years after a major fish kill on the Ballymacraven river, the Ennistymon Rivers Festival – which will take place over the May Bank Holiday weekend – is celebrating community resilience. The family-friendly three-day festival, running from May 4-6, brings together locals, volunteers, visitors, and environmental champions to celebrate the positive steps being taken to protect, restore, and enhance the rivers that make the Ennistymon area of north Clare so appealing. The devastating fish kill on the Ballymacraven River in May 2023 saw well over 2,000 fish killed, including Atlantic salmon, brown trout, and eels of all age-classes, on a 2.6km stretch of the river, While the fish kill served as a reminder of the fragility of our natural environment, it also sparked a collective response by the local community to protect and restore the river for future generations. Ballymacraven River. Image source: Ruairí Ó Conchúir Two years on, the Ennistymon Rivers Festival offers an opportunity to celebrate the enormous amount of positive work that has been undertaken by local volunteers on the Inagh and Ballymacraven rivers, reflecting the importance the local community places on nature. Kevin Nunan, chair of the Restore Ballymacraven River Association, said that the Ennistymon Rivers Festival is a celebration of the progress made in bringing the community together to map out the work still to be done over the next number of years. Nunan said: 'We're very proud of the commitment of the local community to restore the Inagh and Ballymacraven rivers, and the work completed to date to protect local biodiversity and natural habitats within and along these local rivers. We are working to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.' The focus of the Ennistymon Rivers Festival is on engaging the entire family, with highlights including expert talks and workshops on many aspects of river restoration from salmon conservation to the vital role trees play in river bank conservation and learning about river ecosystems. Also included in the weekend is a guided bat walk, guided kayaking tours, and a major river restoration workshop for community groups and angling clubs. Those who attend will have the chance to learn how they can get involved in local conservation efforts and make a difference. Inagh River, Ennistymon. Image source: Ruairí Ó Conchúir Ruairí Ó Conchúir, senior community water officer with the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), and local to the area, said that the Ennistymon Rivers Festival provided an excellent example of a local community group stepping up to the mark and providing local leadership in river restoration and water quality awareness work. 'The work of LAWPRO is fully supportive of community groups playing such an active role in the local communities,' he said. The Restore Ballymacraven River Association invites everyone to join in celebrating the Ennistymon Rivers Festival. All events are free, but booking is required as numbers are limited for several events, including river kayaking. The festival kicks off Friday afternoon, May 2 with a river restoration workshop for community groups and angling clubs. The official launch will take place that evening, followed by the keynote event: an illustrated talk on the current status of salmon in Ireland and future prospects by renowned international expert, Dr. Philip McGinnity, followed by a panel discussion. The Rivers Festival promises to showcase the vital role a resilient local community can play in restoring, protecting, and enhancing its natural environment. The event will ensure that the Inagh and Ballymacraven rivers, that flow through north Clare and Ennistymon, remain a symbol of hope, community tenacity and the resilience of nature.
Irish Examiner
24-04-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Community effort to restore Ballymacraven River in Clare to be celebrated this May bank holiday weekend
Efforts by a community to restore a river where a massive fish kill occurred, two years ago, are being celebrated during the May bank holiday weekend. A free, family-friendly festival is taking place in Ennistymon, County Clare, over the May Bank Holiday Weekend, bringing together locals, volunteers, visitors and environmentalists to mark positive steps being taken to protect, restore and enhance local rivers. It is being held exactly two years since a fish kill, in the Ballymacraven River, wiped out more than 2,000 fish, including vulnerable Atlantic salmon, brown trout and eels along a 2.6 kilometre stretch. Uisce Eireann (UE) was fined €10,000 after admitting water pollution charges resulting from a discharge of iron sludge from a water treatment plant, which caused the fish kill. An upgrade has since been completed at the plant. Community event on the Ballymacraven River in December 2024. Picture: Ruairí Ó Conchúir The fish kill sparked a collective response from the local community to protect and restore this river for future generations. The Ennistymon Rivers Festival celebrates positive work that has been undertaken by volunteers on the Inagh and Ballymacraven rivers. However, Kevin Nunan, chairman of the Restore Ballymacraven River Association, said work still needs to be done to restore the rivers, and to protect local biodiversity and natural habitats they contain: 'We are working to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come." Ballymacraven River. Picture: Ruairí Ó Conchúir The festival includes expert talks and workshops on aspects of river restoration, such as salmon conservation, the role trees play in river banks, and learning about river ecosystems. Also included in the programme is a guided bat-walk, guided kayaking tours and a river restoration workshop for community groups and angling clubs. Meanwhile, a €7.5million upgrade by UE at the Ballymacravan treatment plant ensures a safe and reliable water supply for local homes and businesses, according to UE. Inagh River, Ennistymon in November, 2024. Picture: Ruairí Ó Conchúir The supply has also been removed from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) list of vulnerable water supplies. Deirdre O'Loughlin, UE's regional drinking water compliance manager, said their key focus remained the protection of public health through the provision of safe, clean and secure water supplies. 'This critical upgrade at Ballymacravan ensures ongoing compliance with drinking water regulations and significantly reduces the risk of future water quality issues,'' she added. Spring gentian, The Burren, County Clare On an entirely different note, anyone visiting the Ennistymon area should avail of the opportunity to explore the Burren which looks its best at this time of year. That emblematic blue flower of the Burren, spring gentian, is in bloom along with several other wildflowers, while butterflies and bumbles are also making their presence felt. Given reasonable weather, it's a splendid time to explore the landscape of this unique part of Ireland, with its archaeological remains, limestone pavements, woodlands, numerous trails and much more.
