TWO years on from an unprecedented and devasting fish kill in North Clare, the Ennistymon Rivers Festival will take place.
Last February, Uisce Éireann was fined €10,000 at Ennis District Court and ordered to pay €8,477 in costs following Inland Fisheries Ireland’s prosecution of the State-owned water utility company for chemical discharges to the Ballymacraven river in Ennistymon which resulted in the killing of an estimated 2,000 plus fish.
Uisce Éireann pleaded guilty to two water pollution charges in connection with a ‘fish kill’ that occurred downstream of its water treatment plant which serves a population of almost 7,000 people in the wider North Clare area, including Ennistymon, Lahinch, Kilfenora, Doolin, Fanore and Ballyvaughan.
In a new venture to celebrate the positive steps undertaken to protect, restore and enhance the rivers that make the Ennistymon area of North Clare so special, a free family-friendly three day festival is planned for the May Bank Holiday weekend in Ennistymon.
The Ennistymon Rivers Festival is being held, exactly two years on from the devastating fish kill on the Ballymacraven River. Atlantic salmon, brown trout and eels of all age-classes washed up dead in what was labelled “the most significant fish kill” witnessed in the county. The incident served as a reminder of the fragility of our natural environment but it also sparked a collective response by the local community to protect and restore this river for future generations.
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 our natural environment.
Chairperson of the Restore Ballymacraven River Association, Kevin Nunan stated, “the Ennistymon Rivers Festival is really a celebration of the progress we’ve made in bringing the community together, and to map out the work still to be done over the next number of years. 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”.
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 are planned for the festival. 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.
Ruairí Ó Conchúir, Senior Community Water Officer, with the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), and local to the area, noted “that the Ennistymon Rivers Festival offers 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”.
Though all events are free, booking is required, as numbers are limited for several events, including river kayaking. The Festival kicks off Friday afternoon (2nd May) 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. This talk will give an overview of the national picture of Atlantic salmon in Ireland and will be followed by an excellent panel discussion.
The Rivers Festival promises to showcase the vital role a resilient local community can play to restore, protect and enhance their natural environment. The event will ensure that the Inagh and Ballymacraven rivers that flow through North Clare and Ennistymon, remain a symbol of hope, life and community. Anyone wishing to find out more information and to reserve a place, please visit the website of the Restore Ballymacraven River Association here: www.restoreballymacravenriver.com
