Category Archives: The fishing trade

The Fergus estuary

I have a page about the Fergus estuary here with links from that page to others about places on the estuary (including Paradise).

Mediaeval fishweir at the Boarland Rock in the Fergus Estuary © Dr Aidan O’Sullivan, UCD 2008

Mediaeval fishweir at the Boarland Rock in the Fergus Estuary © Dr Aidan O’Sullivan, UCD 2008

The UCD School of Archaeology has, for many years, been investigating the Fergus estuary and has found remarkable evidence of settlement and activities on the estuary stretching back to the Iron Age (about 100 BCE) and the Bronze Age (almost 800 BCE). Read about the project here and see more photos of mediaeval fishweirs and earlier artefacts here.

The photo above is used in accordance with the terms set out here.

SESIFP

Read about the draft Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary here. You can comment on it up to 15 February 2013.

A Limerick/Shannon website

A new-ish site and project here.

Dept Ag

Big it up for the Lands Branch (who knew?) of the Dept of Ag, which responded immesiately to tell me that the fishing rights in my garden are owned by the Central Fisheries Board, which is called something else these days, so we know it’s much more efficient.

If only the DeptAg folk in charge of Section 46 of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act 2000 were as quick to respond as their Lands Branch colleagues.

Fishing rights

Looking at the deeds for my house today, I found that the Land Commission took the fishing rights for the land whereon the house is built.

At the moment, these rights are of little value as the house is near the top of a hill and surrounded by other houses and a graveyard. However, what with global warming and all that, it may be that there will be a rise in water levels and that the fishing rights will then be valuable.

Accordingly, I have written to the Department of Agriculture, which may be the successor to the Land Commission, to ask it to give me the fishing rights.

 

Praise for Kilrush

Kilrush across the creek

It was highly gratifying to witness the animation that prevailed in Kilrush — the neatness of the little shops, the flagged pathway, and the absence of accumulated dirt, so prominent and offensive a peculiarity of most small towns in Ireland. The people about Kilrush (whose population is 5000) are handsome, and appear considerably more intelligent than in many other places.

Jonathan Binns The Miseries and Beauties of Ireland Vol II Longman, Orme, Brown and Co, London 1837

 

Cots, nets and salmon

Snap-net fishing in Carrick-on-Suir.

Barges, cots and subaltern waterways studies

I am to speak at Jamestown, near Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim, on Saturday 4 August 2012. Jamestown is having its heritage festival, and large numbers of old (converted) barges will be there. I will be giving one of four talks; mine is entitled

Down with barges: why cots were the really important vessels on Irish inland waterways.

I will be citing His Late Majesty Henry VIII, Fid Def, in support of my contention.

Here is some of the background to my thinking. If you would like to hear more, do come along on the day: the talks are open to all.

Shannon eels

I have a page about the Shannon eel fishery here.

In April 2012 Frank Feighan TD asked many Dáil questions about the Shannon eel fishery; the answers provide a useful update to (and expansion of) the information on my page.

Killaloe eel fishery

Text of aD in Limerick Leader seen on 5 April 2012

Conservation of Silver Eels on the River Shannon

Expressions of interest are invited from all interested parties to assess eligibility for a competitive tender process to award Silver Eel Operations contract on the River Shannon at ESB Eel Weir Killaloe, Co Clare.

To be eligible for consideration interested parties must have:

  • the appropriate eel fishing experience ;
  • knowledge of the River Shannon and Killaloe region as applicable;
  • suitable certified equipment;
  • appropriate insurances;
  • tax certificates, if appropriate;
  • Training records
  • other documentation as may be deemed necessary by ESB.

To register your interest, please contact:

ESB Fisheries Conservation,
Ardnacrusha Generating Station,
Limerick, Co.Clare

before 16.00hrs on Friday 13th April 2012.

Phone: 061 350598/350538; Fax 061 344560
Email: tom.obrien1@esb.ie

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More on the eel fishery here.