Member Clubs
- Cregmore/Athenry
- Milltown
- Tuam
Improving and preserving wild brown trout and salmon fisheries along the Clare River catchment
Over the past few years, Cairde an Chláir has embarked on an incredible journey of conservation and restoration along the River Clare to support the greater catchment area of Lough Corrib. It fills me with immense satisfaction to reflect on the strides we have made in protecting the habitats of our cherished brown trout and salmon populations.
Cairde an Chláir – in numbers
| Two fish (brown trout) is now effective as of April 2024 | |
| 5 year development | 3,700m proposed habitat restored around streams |
| 3 angling clubs | 400 members (approx.) |
| 5,370m of fencing to protect streams from livestock | Collaboration with Inland Fisheries Ireland |
| 6 solar powered pump / drinking troughs installed | 1,500 trees to be planted in 2024 |
Our Aim
To improve and preserve wild brown trout and salmon fisheries along the Clare River catchment.Our History
The initial drive to form Cairde an Chláir (CanC) was to restore a damaged nursery steam for young brown trout, the Dawros stream in Miltown, Co. Galway. This enhancement became a reality following a request by Tuam Angling Association for an advisory visit by the Wild Trout Trust (WTT) to draw up a plan for a stream development within the Clare River catchment.
Following several site visits, it was decided that the Dawros showed excellent potential for an enhancement scheme. The completion of this development encouraged angling clubs involved to do more enhancement work, and thus a federation (Cairde an Chláir) of angling clubs which fish or have fishing rights on the Clare River was formed in 2015.
The clubs that are members of Cairde an Chláir are Milltown Anglers, Cregmore Athenry Anglers and the Tuam Anglers Association.
Why protect streams?
Restoring natural habitats on streams for young brown trout and salmon is important as it means these streams are able to support populations of young wild fish.
Streams can be damaged by arterial drainage; modern farming practices, or water abstraction. A stream enhancement is the most cost effective and sustainable way to revitalise the streams and make them productive again.
Once rectified, these damaged systems will then produce more vital wild fish that feed the Lough Corrib catchment. We know that if we give nature a helping hand, nature will respond.
More than 1 in 4 of the adult wild brown trout in Lough Corrib come from the Clare River catchment
Techniques
Some common techniques we use include:
- Placing gravel in streams for trout and salmon to use for spawning.
- Putting in rock deflectors or constriction points to change how fast the stream flows and create more flow diversity.
- Putting up fencing to protect developed sites from damage by cows and sheep.
- Installing solar powered pumps to provide drinking troughs for livestock. This prevents cows and sheep accessing the stream channel, and urinating or defecating directly in the stream.
- Planting trees to make stream banks stronger or create buffer zones to slow down how quickly mud and silt runs into streams from nearby fields. Trees also provide protective cover for fish and wildlife, and increase the number of insects living in the tree canopy. These insects provide extra food for fish.
Combined, these measures help to improve water quality and increase biodiversity along the riverine corridor. The restored habitats are a haven for different species of animals, birds, invertebrates and flora which live along the margins of our rivers and streams.
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Abbert River restoration
Cairde an Chláir’s first stream enhancement project took place on the Abbert River, Killaclogher, at the end of September 2020. Inland Fisheries Ireland felt that the plan was a good one and would make the ideal stream enhancement to begin the new collaboration with Cairde an Chláir.
We restored over 900m of natural habitats in streams on the Abbert River, and installed 520m of protective fencing and 1 solar powered pump to supply drinking water to cattle, Restoring the stream was a prime objective of Cairde an Chláir and we are delighted it was been achieved. The restoration project cost approximately €100k.
The Abbert River project marked the creation of a new model to work in collaboration with Inland Fisheries Ireland which could be utilised by other angling clubs nationwide to enhance nursery streams and restore them to produce more wild fish.
Angling clubs could help identify and fund new projects and Inland Fisheries Ireland would then deal with governance issues and liaise with government agencies such as the Office of Public Works or organise plant machinery to do the contractual work themselves.
This provided a template for stream development across the west of Ireland moving forwards.
Our five year plan
Our five-year plan (2020-25) aims to help us restore over 8,000m of nursery stream habitat on the Clare River catchment.
If we meet this target, it will signify a landmark achievement for Cairde an Chláir and Inland Fisheries Ireland, and will send a clear message about the positive results which can be achieved through this collaboration.
As part of the plan, 15 potential sites for protection were identified and to date six further sites have been completed.
- The Sinking River, downstream and upstream of Addergoole Bridge. Approximately 400 metres developed. Plus 1560m of protective fencing and 2 solar powered pumps/drinking troughs.
- The Cloondahamper/ Cloonascragh development. Approximately 1.100m of in-stream work developed. Plus 1,140m of protective fencing and 1 solar powered pump/ drinking trough installed.
- The Nanny River, adjacent Tuam Garda station. Approximately 400m of in-stream habitat developed.
- Suileen, Suileen Bridge, Tuam. Approximately 400m of in-stream habitat developed. Plus 600 metres of protective fencing with two solar powered pumps/ drinking troughs installed.
- Nanny River, Polluphuca Bridge. Approximately 400m of in-stream habitat developed. Plus 1,650m of protective fencing.
- Sinking River, Belwell, Dunmore. Approximately 100m developed. This small development was completed in 2022 and although limited in extent, it attracted its first spawning salmon in the winter of 2022/23.
Our plan is open to amendments or new sites being put forward for restoration, if they are deemed beneficial to protecting natural stream habitats.
This flexible approach means that as we learn more about the catchment streams and their potential, we can target those streams that offer the greatest prospect of producing a positive result.
Projects for 2024
This is an exciting year for Cairde an Chláir and we have the greatest tranche of development work ever planned for the Clare River catchment.
If we complete all the scheduled projects, we will have enhanced habitats in over 3km of streams, put up nearly 5km of fencing, installed 6 new solar powered drinking troughs and planted more than 1,500 sapling trees.
We will undertake this work across four sites:
- Omaum River, 1.400m development including 1100m of in-stream work, plus 2000m stock fencing and 2 solar powered pump/drinking troughs and 1000 sapling trees.
- Kilgevrin Stream, 400m development, plus 1,.100m stock fencing and 2 solar powered pump/drinking troughs.
- Nanny River, Birmingham Demesne, 500m development, plus 1,100m of protective stock fencing and 1 solar powered pump/drinking trough.
- Nanny River, Drumaskin Bridge, 700m development, plus 500m of protective stock fencing and 1 solar powered drinking trough and 500 sapling trees.
This tranche of work planned for 2024 is valued at approximately €300,000 and is made possible thanks to the generous support of our funders. The estimated costs cover all expenses, including administration; application for governance approval, materials, man power, plant and machinery.
Two fish bag limit proposed
The Clare River catchment is a major contributor of wild brown trout to Lough Corrib. More than one in four of the adult wild brown trout in the Corrib come from the Clare River catchment (source: Dr Karen Delantey/Prof Martin O’Grady genetic report).
Fish which run the Clare system are of a high average weight, ranging between 1-3kg (2- 6lbs) or bigger. These mature trout which run the system to spawn later in the year, are attracting increasing interest from anglers.
There has been a growing concern over exploitation by anglers fishing illegally, particularly around waters near Tuam Angling Association, and so the Tuam club felt that a conservation measure was required.
They proposed a two fish (brown trout) bag limit for the Clare River catchment at the 2023 AGM Cairde an Chláir. The measure was accepted by the member clubs and was then put to Inland Fisheries Ireland who accepted the suggestion with a positive response and have now issued a public consultation on the matter.
Despite some limited opposition, the result was an overwhelming majority in favour of the proposed bag limit. This was conclusive confirmation that the majority of anglers who share an interest in the Western Fisheries were in favour of the conservation measure for brown trout in the Clare River and its tributaries.
Inland Fisheries Ireland have now provided the recommendations and results of the consultation to the government for review. It is hoped that the review will be favourable, and the proposed conservation measure to protect brown trout in the the Clare River will be signed off by the Minister and become a statuary bye-law in 2024.
Angling history is being made by our collective group.
If the proposal does become law, then we hope it will provide an example for other clubs around Ireland to follow.
Footnote; This is now as of April 2024 legislative law.
Collaboration with Inland Fisheries Ireland
Inland Fisheries Ireland and Cairde an Chláir work together to protect some of Ireland’s most pristine streams and tributaries along the 93km of the Clare River. We are proud that there are many anglers here in the west of Ireland who share our concern for protecting our historic wild fisheries.
The formation of Cairde an Chláir (CanC) in 2015 coincided with the implementation of the National Strategy for Angling Development (NSAD). This initiative by Inland Fisheries Ireland (Fl) unfortunately meant it was impossible for angling clubs or organisations to work on stream enhancements (restoring habitats on streams to make them suitable for young brown trout and salmon) as there were too many bureaucratic hurdles.
Although Cairde an Chláir is not a political organisation, some members of the federation formed a campaign, ‘Save Irish Fisheries’, petitioning Inland Fisheries Ireland to take stream enhancements back in-house. The campaign far exceeded its initial target of 1,000 signatures by securing signatures from 3,500 concerned anglers and undertaking high-level advocacy to push for reform.
This sent a clear message and as pressure grew, Inland Fisheries Ireland made the commendable decision to take stream enhancement schemes back in-house. A 5-year development plan for the Clare River catchment was also agreed, and Cairde an Chláir also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Inland Fisheries lreland. This laid the foundations for Cairde an Chláir to move forward with its prime objective – to enhance and develop nursery stream habitat for the recruitment of more wild fish – with the support of Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Lessons learnt
In 2023, a 1.400m project on the Omaum River was scheduled for development during the early autumn. However, the Office of Public Works as the main contractor pulled its service at the last minute. This left Inland Fisheries Ireland without the services of the agency required for governance clearance for in-stream work, a function which would normally be undertaken by OPW. To obtain planning would take months, and therefore Inland Fisheries Ireland were left with no alternative but to abandon the scheme for 2023 and reschedule it for 2024.
To avoid a similar scenario occurring again, Inland Fisheries Ireland have appointed their own in-house team to deal with future governance for in-stream developments. In addition, Inland Fisheries Ireland have assembled a projects group that includes a team for planning and project design, and a team for doing site work. These initiatives which display a more progressive and forward thinking state agency, are actions which Cairde an Chláir positively support.
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works (OPW/) has been supportive of our development work by providing plant and machinery for previous projects, however, in 2023 this support was withdrawn because they had been challenged by an environmental group, Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE). This group representing the Boyne, have questioned whether OPW can legally do stream enhancement work.
As long as OPW are in dispute with FIE, Cairde an Chláir sadly cannot undertake any stream enhancement work with them. OPW’s support is highly valued, and their services with plant and machinery which provide a huge saving in contractual costs will be sorely missed. It is hoped that Friends of the Irish Environment and the OPW will resolve this issue quickly so we can partner with them again soon.
A special thank you to all our partners and funders
- Clydagh Foundation
- OPW
- Wild Trout Trust
- lascach Intire Eireann / Inland Fisheries Ireland
- Local Authority Waters Programme
Cairde an Chláir is an association of three angling clubs along the Clare River.
Our mission is to protect and improve wild brown trout and salmon fisheries in the Clare River catchment which feeds Lough Corrib.