Creating a greener future

Over the St Brigid’s bank Holiday weekend; 15 volunteers representing member clubs of Cairde an Chláir, Tuam AA, Cregmore/ Athenry and Milltown gathered at Tuam Cathedral to commence a native tree planting programme along the fenced margins of Clare river headwater streams.

Missing from above photo; Michael O’ Halloran, Liam Barrett, Keith Mc Donnell, Noel Martin.

The above cohort of Cairde an Chláir members, volunteered to give a day of their time to planting native trees on project sites which have been enhanced for the recruitment of wild brown trout and salmon. The stream margins of previous enhancements, R. Nanny – Birmingham Demesne, R. Nanny – Drumaskin and the Omaum were the sites selected. This amounted to approximately and without taking into account fenced double bank where applicable, 2500m of fenced margin and over 1000 native trees were planted.

The trees were donated by Boston Scientific through a scheme which was administered by Corrib BEO. As a member of the Corrib Catchment Partnership, Cairde an Chláir applied for 1,400 native trees through a funding scheme which was made available to the Corrib catchment. Cairde an Chláir very much appreciate the donation made by Boston Scientific and are thankful also to Corrib BEO for administering the scheme.

On the day members put in a gargantuan shift and planted over 1000 native trees, wrapping up the final session on the Omaum around 4pm. Cairde an Chláir acknowledge this generous gesture by members giving their time and the physical effort involved to create a greener future. This generosity is typical of member support, they give time and time again to developing and improving environmental habitat for the recruitment of wild brown trout and salmon.

A voluntary gift willingly given by members which benefits anglers that fish both the Clare river and lough Corrib. The wild fish created from the work undertaken by Cairde an Chláir‘s collaboration with IFI filter through the entire system, so other clubs which fish the Clare river and those who fish lough Corrib also gain from the contribution made by our members.

By planting trees within the fenced zone, we create a buffer strip which on the clay soils prevalent in the Clare river catchment, help to reduce surface water runoff, thereby reducing the nutrient loading to the water course and also lowers the flood risk. These are positive gains which benefit the local community, water quality and the environment.

The trees also create greater biodiversity along the riverine corridor. Providing nest sites; shelter and food for different species of birds, better habitat for a host of smaller mammals including otter and pine marten and a better environment for some forms of terrestrial insects which will provide food for birdlife, animals and fish. We also have the recreational gain achieved by the increase of wild fish recruitment, which not only benefits the local community but also contributes to the numbers of adult wild brown trout caught in lough Corrib.

Habitat loss is one of biggest issues effecting species decline. The tree planting which took place on the three sites complete the enhancement of these schemes. There will be follow up maintenance programme but all the major work and capital costs have now been completed.

The surplus trees which were not used on the day were used on other sites. Bernard Conroy took a consignment of trees for the Kilgevrin as a follow up to a scheme which was planted in 2025. Michael O’ Halloran took a consignment for Cregmore /Athenry water on the Clare river. These have been planted and will hopefully add to a greener biodiverse environment and help mitigate climate change.

All the schemes were designed by Inland Fisheries Ireland. The agency dealt with governance, screening and planning as well as organising contractor input of plant machinery and personnel.

Thank you to our dedicated members.

Photography; Keith Mc Donnell, Dave Porter and Larry Mc Carthy

Thanks to Boston Scientific and Corrib BEO.