A Great St. Patrick’s Day on the River Tolka

Press release 22nd March 2012

The River Tolka opened on March 17th, providing a fantastic St. Patricks Day for hundreds of anglers who turned out for the annual opening day competitions.

From early morning the river was filled with many enthusiastic anglers – young and old alike. Weather conditions started off dry, even a few heavy hailstorms did not deter the hundreds of anglers who had turned out to enjoy the day. The Tolka Trout Anglers Association held a competition at Finglas for its members and the Tolka River Environmental Alliance held a competition for its members at Blanchardstown and the Dublin Angling Initiative were in attendance.

Inland Fisheries Ireland stocked brown trout into the river in the days preceding the competition. The lovely triploid fish caught by many anglers provided a great fight to young and old alike. Over 500 anglers were out in force fishing for the day, many of which were youngsters, who fish the river regularly. Many fish were caught and released and great fun was had by all. Prizes included rods and reels and were presented to the juniors by Des Chew and Josie Mahon of the Dublin Angling Initiative. Prizes were sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Pet Shop in Finglas, Anglers Paradise and Tolka Trout Anglers Association and Tolka River Environmental Alliance.
……Ends…..

Media enquiries

Suzanne Campion,
Head of Business Development,
Inland Fisheries Ireland,
Anglesea Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971
Email suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie
Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie

Notes to Editor

The Dublin Angling Initiative was set up in 1995. Its principle aims are to promote, develop and improve angling in the Dublin and Greater Dublin area and is sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland. Its aims are to introduce angling to young people in Dublin, to improve the product and to develop educational programmes to heighten fisheries awareness. During the summer months the main work of the initiative is taking young people from National and Secondary schools, summer projects and youth services throughout Dublin City Centre and its suburbs on fishing courses. Since its inception 6,000 teenagers have participated in sea, coarse and game fishing programmes. These fishing courses are the first preference choice for activities run in youth projects in Dublin during the summer months.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI promotes, supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. It also develops and advises the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling. www.fisheriesireland.ie