Fisheries Awareness Week Launched to Encourage Children and Adults to Go Fishing

Press release, Friday, 15th May 2015

– Programme of events running nationwide from 15th to 24th May –

A programme of activities to mark Fisheries Awareness Week 2015, the annual event run by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) was launched today (15.05.15), with a range of fisheries-related public events in angling hotspots around the country from Friday 15th to Sunday, 24th May.

Fisheries Awareness Week runs nationwide each year in early summer, and aims to encourage adults and children to take up fishing as a new hobby. To achieve this, IFI works with angling clubs and organisations to promote all types of angling – from beach casting to fly fishing.

IFI also uses this platform to promote its role in protecting and conserving our fisheries resource. IFI works with existing anglers to heighten their awareness of the environment with events ranging from game, coarse and sea angling demonstrations, river walks, open days at fishery facilities and more.

Commenting on Fisheries Awareness Week, Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland, said: “This annual series of public angling events has proven highly popular and every year hundreds of people turn out to join angling clubs for introductions to shore angling, fly casting and more. We are particularly delighted that every year, adults and children who have never fished before attend these events and discover their passion for what is a great hobby.

“Ireland offers a wealth of rivers and lakes as well as fantastic stocks of high-quality fish. The importance of protecting and conserving our fisheries resource in Ireland cannot be understated – it contributes to our health and wellbeing, our environment and our economy. Fisheries Awareness Week is a fantastic way of raising awareness nationwide.”

A number of events will take place from Cork to Donegal, including activities such as an exploration of the sea shore with a marine biologist in Waterville; an introduction to fly fishing and spinning for trout in Balrothery; and introduction to fly fishing in Carrigavantry, Co. Waterford and Meadows Trout Fishery in Fanad, Co Donegal. Events are free and open to all.

For the full programme of events for Fisheries Awareness Week 2015 visit: www.faw.ie.

ENDS

Contact:
Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development, Inland Fisheries Ireland
Mob: 087-2690183 Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971
Email: suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie

Notes to Editor:

Fisheries Awareness Week 2015 Programme of Activities

Co Sligo

Introduction to coarse angling, Ballinascarrow Lake – Saturday, 16th May 2015
Introduction to fly fishing, Lough na Leibe – Sunday, 17th May 2015
Introduction to shore angling, Sligo – Sunday, 17th May 2015
Introduction to shore angling, Sligo – Saturday, 16th May 2015

Co Donegal

Introduction to angling at Meadows Trout Fishery, Fanad, Co. Donegal – Wednesday, 20th May 2015
Youth Angling Day at Lough Fern – Saturday, 16th May 2015
Youth Angling Day at Lough an Iúir – Saturday, 23rd May 2015
Introduction to fly casting and a talk on fisheries at Lough Eske Angling Centre – Friday, 29th May 2015
Boat safety, fly casting and more at Lough Eske Angling Centre – Saturday, 30th May

Co Dublin

An introduction to fly fishing and spinning for trout open day on Wavin Lake, Balrothery – Sat 23rd May 2015

Co. Laois

Mountmellick BioDiversity Discovery Day, organised by the Irish Wildlife Trust, Laois – Saturday, 16th May 2015

Co. Waterford

Learn to fly fish at Carrigavantry, Co. Waterford – Saturday, May 23rd 2015

Co. Roscommon

Castlecoote and Dunamon Angling Event – Friday, 15th May to Sunday, 17th May 2015

Co. Kerry

Explore the Seashore: beach walk with marine biologist at Waterville Beach – Saturday, 16th May 2015
Visit to local salmon hatchery for fly fishing demonstration at Lough Currane, Kerry – Saturday, 16th May 2015