'TODAY IS A great day for Ballina," declared Mary Coughlan, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, at the official launch of Ballina, Co Mayo, as the Salmon Capital of Ireland. The title was awarded by Fáilte Ireland in a public/private partnership deal worth about €100,000 because of the prolific run of salmon through the town.
Speaking in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, last Tuesday, Coughlan said that through hard work, Ballina had achieved the honour.
She said the award is all about quality and building on an established reputation, augmenting facilities and providing opportunities for people when they come on holidays to Ballina. Add to that what Knock Airport can do in bringing people in for short- or long-break holidays.
The key message was to reflect the investment in tourism and to build on the unequalled reputation of the River Moy for salmon fishing.
Ms Coughlan said: "There is no marketing unless you have a product and you guys certainly have the product." People talk of destination spas and golf courses and, when it comes to angling, Ballina has achieved the reputation as the salmon capital of Ireland, she said.
John Walkin, chairman of North Western Regional Board (NWRFB) said that local people had long regarded Ballina as the salmon capital and the title highlighted the Moy as the jewel in the crown.
He pointed out that the river produced an average of 8,382 fish to the rod annually over the last five years, which was 30 per cent of the national salmon rod catch. In addition, angling brought in €12 million to the local economy annually, as anglers flocked to the area from more than 30 countries.
Under the 1992 Moy Development Plan, commercial salmon fishing had ceased and spawning rivers were now enhanced throughout the catchment area with the creation of angling pools, access improvement and additional car parks.
A feasibility study for a salmon-focused visitor centre in Ballina was also under way, Walkin said.
On a troubling note, he said the mooted realignment of the fisheries regions would effectively mean the abolition of the NWRFB and Western Regional Fisheries Boards. "This would create major inefficiencies," he said, and he implored the Minister to retain the two existing boards.
Ms Coughlan, in conclusion, said she respected these views and will support the issues raised, and hoped to address them to everybody's satisfaction.
Meanwhile, this year's Ballina Salmon Festival will take place from July 11th to 20th and is expected to attract over 300,000 people.
Angling remained good on the Moy last week despite rain that raised water levels to a moderate flood and coloured the river. The reported catch was 210, bringing the total for the season so far to 1,288 salmon.
It was another fantastic week at the Galway Weir, with 183 salmon landed and many lost. Fly-anglers had great sport, with perfect water conditions. John Howell landed the fish of the week, a cracking 5.2kg salmon on shrimp.
• The Ladies Fly-Fishing International on Lake Menteith in Scotland ended with Ireland in third position following a keenly fought competition that saw Irish captain Julie Gerry in the individual class finish in fourth position with seven fish against a field of 54 anglers.
Results: 1, Scotland, 65 fish; 2, England, 52f; 3, Ireland, 39f; 4, Wales, 31f.
• Don't miss next week's Angling Notes for the third of our monthly Irish Times/Jimmy Tyrrell's Irish Flycraft lough and river flies reader competition.