DAY 1
On 20th Nov 2025 the IRT team and friends started on their Grand Tour of Rivers Trusts in Ireland.
Our first stop was in Ballybay Wetlands where Alan Kilpatrick from Enterprising Monaghan took us on a tour of the wetland and we discussed how to manage a wetland as a recreational amenity. We heard about a local group called Wild Clan who are using the woodland there to teach children outdoor skills and connecting them with nature. There’s a Waldorf school in the centre too.
We then moved onto a farm where ORCCA had a farmer participating in their EIP. ORCCA is the Oriel River Catchments and Coastal Association and their LAWPRO funded Project Officer is Liam Woods. Liam introduced us to dairy farmer Seamus Conroy and his son James who opened up a culverted stream on their land to promote movement of fish upstream. Fish do not like to move through dark tunnels and these culverts were in effect a barrier to fish migration. This is a great example of how farmers can help improve river habitat quality.
Thank you to Alan, Liam, Seamus and James for taking the time to meet us and discuss the benefits and challenges of their projects.
DAY 2
We had a packed schedule on Day 2 of our tour starting bright and early with a visit to Ward River Valley Park in Swords. There, we met Sean Good, an engineer with Rivus Ecological Engineering. A considerable amount of planning and construction went into this site to solve the invasive species issue (cherry Laurel) and the fish barrier issue while restoring the built heritage of the mill complex that operated here. Excellent work by all involved.
The next part of our day was a great tour by Faith Wilson of the East Wicklow Rivers Trust through their gully woodland site, onto work at Laragh by the Tidy Towns group (joined by Maigue Rivers Trust here) and ultimately onto Ballinglen River and the modifications that eliminated the fish passage issue here.
They have had some excellent results here and well done again to the EWRT and Rivus (who designed and constructed the rock ramp). After a great day in the field we all gathered for dinner with Ann Newton (EWRT trustee), Sybrin Oggel (MRT trustee) and Hannah O’Kelly the biodiversity officer for Wicklow County Council. Super day!
Day 3 of our Grand Tour began with a visit to IRD Duhallow, a community-based rural development organisation in the Duhallow region, Newmarket, Co. Cork. There we met with Aiden Suart, their Agricultural Community Animator working on the Farming for Water EIP project. Aiden introduced us to the range of environmental and agricultural initiatives underway. His presentation highlighted how IRD Duhallow collaborates with farmers and local communities and the measures they use to protect water quality, restore habitats, and promote sustainable land management. Many people will be aware of the great work they have done over the last 30 years and it was an honor to have the chance to visit.
In the second half of our day, we met with Olive Carey, Andy Horgan, John O’Brien, Seán Ó Nuanáin, and Tony Walsh from the Shannon Town Community Wetlands. They guided us through their impressive wetland restoration project, explaining how the site has been transformed into a thriving natural habitat. Restoring the wetland has supported the return of native plants, insects, and other wildlife.
They also brought us to another of their projects, where they are renovating a historic cottage that holds significant Irish heritage. The cottage is closely linked to the story of British General Cuthbert Lucas, who was captured by the IRA in Cork during the War of Independence and held there for a period before his eventual escape. This was a fascinating sight to see, and it was wonderful to learn more about this piece of Ireland’s history.
DAY 4
On the final day of our tour, we met with Jennifer Cunningham, Micheál Ó Cinneide, and Ignatius Egan from Corrib Beo. They brought us on a tour of Lough Corrib, where we learned more about the lake, its wildlife, and its importance to the local community.
They also explained the work of Corrib Beo, a group that helps protect and look after the Lough Corrib catchment. Their work includes raising awareness, supporting conservation, and encouraging people to use the lake responsibly so its wildlife, water quality, and traditions can be protected for the future.
Later that day, we met with Fidelma Flynn, Sheena Spencer, Alan Spencer, and Patrick Benson from the Sligo Bay Catchment Rivers Trust. They told us about their upcoming projects and their hopes for the future. They also talked about getting more people involved and making sure the rivers and waterways in the Sligo Bay Catchment stay healthy for years to come.
And that was a wrap for our whistle stop tour of Irish catchment groups.
We had a wonderful time chatting to our friends around the country, meeting new friends and connecting through what we all love – water!
A huge thank you to LAWPRO for supporting this study trip and to each and everyone we met along the way. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir!
