ANGLING NOTES:THE restructuring of the inland fisheries sector moved a step closer this month following the appointment of Dr Ciaran Byrne as chief executive designate of Inland Fisheries Ireland by Conor Lenihan, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The appointment took effect from August 1st.
Inland Fisheries Ireland will be established following amalgamation of the central and seven regional fisheries boards through legislation that will be approved by the Oireachtas before the year end. The decision is expected to save €300,000 annually.
Dr Byrne will continue to hold executive powers as chief executive of the Central Fisheries Board pending formal establishment of the new authority. In his new role his immediate task will be to prepare the fisheries boards for the transition to the new organisation.
Prior to his appointment, Dr Byrne held a number of senior positions in the private and public sectors. He holds a PhD from Trinity College Dublin and is a chartered management accountant.
Dr Byrne said, “This is an exciting time for the inland fisheries sector which is about to embark on its biggest change for almost 30 years. It is important we avail of the opportunities presented during this transition.”
* By chanceI met Lawrence Finney selling and demonstrating fly dressings at the recent world cup championships at Cushlough Bay on Lough Mask. Originally from Nottingham and now living in Moira, Co Armagh, he is a qualified fly-dressing advanced game-angling instructor (APGAI) and runs a thriving fly-tying school three nights a week.
Lawrence was invited to the world cup by Denis Kelleher and committee members to raise funds for his son Mark who was badly injured in a motorbike accident last May which left him paralysed from the waist down.
“We raised over €1,000, sufficient to purchase a chair to help him get in and out of the bath. Mark is making good progress and is considering training for the spinal injuries association basketball team,” Lawrence said.
To contribute to this worthy cause or to contact Lawrence, visit www.finneysflies.com
* The IrishGame and Country Fair will be held at Birr Castle, Co Offaly, this Saturday and Sunday, hosted by Lord and Lady Rosse.
Game Fair marketing director Albert Titterington said, “I am particularly pleased that the Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers (Fissta) will be bringing young people from over 12 Kerry schools as reward for their hard work in their schools’ angling programmes.”
Fissta’s chairman John Carroll praised the organisers for their support of youth angling. As part of the awards, the winners, along with their parents or guardians, will enjoy fly-casting demonstrations by the internationally renowned Robert Gillespie and Glenda Powell.
Ireland’s leading authority on trout and salmon fishing, Peter O’Reilly will also be in attendance, and Jimmy Tyrrell will demonstrate his fly-tying skills. The Birr Game and Country Fair is supported by Shannon Development and Fáilte Ireland.
* The IrishTimes Angling Club's weekend outing to Clifden, Co Galway, was a resounding success. Fishing out from Cleggan on board Blue Water, a charter boat owned by John Britain (bluewater@eircom.net), the group enjoyed a pleasant day's fishing close to Inishturk Island.
Weather was good, with light winds and calm seas. However, for one member, sea sickness won out and he required an urgent removal to Inishturk. Refreshments in the community centre (pub) on the island, produced a remarkable recovery.
While pollock dominated catches, the group encountered a cross-section of 13 species including codling, whiting, ling and plenty of mackerel. David Lee caught the heaviest pollock of about 3kg and Denis Coghlan, the heaviest ling of 2kg.
Our stay at the Clifden Station House Hotel was outstanding and dinner in the award-winning restaurant was one of the high points of the weekend. On arrival back from fishing, Wilson, the hotel manager, kindly asked if we would like our catch prepared for dinner. However, we unanimously opted for the salmon on the menu.