Fishing for beginners is a big success in the Dublin area

Press Release 16th May 2011

As part of Fisheries Awareness Week a number of key events took place in the Greater Dublin area from 7-15th May. To mark the launch of the week, the Tolka River Environmental Alliance and the Tolka Trout Anglers Association in conjunction with the Dublin Angling Initiative organised a flycasting event on the River Tolka which took place on Saturday 7th May. The purpose of this event was to introduce youngsters to the sport of flyfishing and to encourage them to take up angling on the local river. The event was a great success with hundreds of young people turning out on the day. Lots of fish were caught and released and young people learnt how to handle and release fish safely.

98 teenagers from Templeogue College in Dublin then joined forces with the Dublin Angling Initiative team to learn all about fishing. Workshops were given on tackle, bait, environmental awareness and safety while fishing, followed by a fishing excursion to National Disabled angling facility – ‘Angling for all’ in Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. The purpose of this event was to introduce beginners to fishing as a recreational activity, the group was compiled of complete novices to the sport.

The events kicked off with a talk from Des Chew of the Dublin Angling Initiative on fishing methods, conservation, safety and the types of fish and wildlife found at the fishery. The boys aged 16 years were divided into groups and a tutor was assigned to each group to instruct the teenagers on casting and hopefully catching and releasing a fish. They all headed off very enthusiastically to the lake to try and catch some of the hard fighting rainbow trout in the Angling for all facility in Aughrim.

Youngsters were fishing with the bubble and fly and within the first ten minutes a couple of them were into fish, the excitement was second to none with each teenager trying their hardest to catch their first fish. Amidst the untangling of tackle and gear and the shrieks of excitement from the teenagers, a total of 50 fish were caught and the majority released back into Aughrim. By the end of the sessions every participant had learnt how to cast, present bait and for many experience the joys of catching a fish for the first time.

These events were part of fisheries awareness week organised Inland Fisheries Ireland. The main purpose of this week was to introduce people to angling and a series of events were held around the country, see www.faw.ie

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Media enquiries

Josie Mahon,
Inland Fisheries Ireland,
15A Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
Tel: 01 278 7022 / 087 6538202
email: josie.mahon@fisheriesireland.ie
Website: www.fishinginireland.info

Notes to Editor

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 will promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling and develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling.

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. 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. Already thousands of young people have been introduced to the joys of sea, coarse and game angling at the venues that are accessible by bus and rail from Dublin City centre.