www.communityvoice.ie - Community stories from Dublin 15

Great turn out for Tolka Opening Day
by Peter Goulding

Since the Tolka River Environmental Alliance (TREA) was launched in 2005, it has had a tremendous impact on the stretch of river that flows between the M50 and Damastown.

The young officers of Alliance, which consists of three environmental groups - the Mulhuddart Foróige Environmental Group, Blanchardstown Foróige River Watch and Corduff Foróige Environmental Group - have launched a host of ambitious projects to restock and rejuvenate an inland waterway that had hitherto been neglected and polluted. Greg Knpik with the three pound fish that won him first prize in the senior competition

The ultimate objective of the group is the return of the Tolka Valley to as near as possible its natural state and to turn it into a local amenity that the whole area will be able to enjoy and treasure for generations to come.

Integral to the plan are the now regular fishing competitions that are held along the river’s banks every year. There are usually three competitions per year, one on St. Patrick’s Day, when the fishing season opens, one in April and one in July.

This year’s opening day competition was as usual very well supported with over one hundred anglers jockeying for position along the river’s banks. TREA had previously released around a thousand fish into the river as part of the group’s restocking programme and the excited fishermen and women eagerly chose their spots to entice them back out again.

“We were delighted with the turn-out and also very pleased to see such a variety of ages,” said TREA secretary Philip Jennings. “There were parents and grandparents present as well as children and youths. One five year old, Nathan Maguire, had caught four fish before 1.30pm, so it was great day out for all. It was not however, the proverbial shooting of fish in a barrel, as some people might imagine. It required great patience and determination to land a catch.

“What was particularly satisfying was the level of female participation in the event. Fishing has been seen in the past as a traditionally male-dominated sport but the figures on St. Patrick’s Day suggest that this is becoming less so.”

For the record, the senior competition was won by Greg Knpik, who bagged a three pound fish; the under 16 competition went to Elliott O’Neill, who landed his first ever fish with a weight of 1lb 12oz; and the juniors was won by six year old Ollie Sheppard, who landed one of the same weight.

It should of course be pointed out that, in keeping with TREA’s environmental ethos, all fish caught were returned to the river.

There was further good news for TREA with the announcement that the €8,000 awarded to them out of the Dormant Accounts Fund is to be used to set up four fly-tying clubs. These clubs will run after the fishing season ends in September and will be a useful tool in the fisher’s armoury for the prestigious fly-fishing competitions throughout the year.

The money will be used to equip the clubs and TREA are actively looking for experts to teach this art to 10 to 18 year olds during the close season.

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