DODDER Anglers' Association (DAA) celebrated its 50th Anniversary in grand style last Friday week with a most enjoyable dinner dance at the Tara Towers Hotel in Dublin. The occasion brought together members and friends to acknowledge the achievements of this outstanding angling club.
With membership steady at 850, including 200 junior anglers, the DAA is by far the largest and most progressive angling club in Ireland. The Dodder too is in sublime condition, pollution-free and holding a large stock of brown trout - a remarkable success story for a river that flows through the capital city.
The situation was much different back in the 1970s. An illegal toxic dump sited close to Bohernabreena reservoir breached its banks in 1975 and fish lay dying for a stretch of 10 miles down to Ringsend.
Following a restocking programme, membership of the DAA rose to 1,300 and the angling pressure that ensued forced the club to continue its restocking plan in order to preserve the identity of the river. This concept set the pattern for present-day practices whereby the river holds a considerable amount of farmed trout alongside a healthy stock of wild brown trout in all of its reaches.
The Dodder is small compared with most rivers, just 15 miles in length from source at Kippure in the Dublin mountains before reaching the sea at Ringsend, but it is also a beautiful river. In recent years fly hatches have improved and include large dark olives, yellow midge and blue-winged olives and some silver horn sedges. Wildlife abounds, with kingfishers, dippers, herons, cormorants and otters prevalent throughout the fishery.
In his keynote address, Dr Ken Whelan said that, amid talk about biodiversity and the need to restore our environment, we can take great pride that in one corner of Co Dublin the goals being set by Europe have been met and indeed surpassed by the DAA, a group of unpaid, enthusiastic amateurs dedicated to their sport.
Honorary secretary Redmond "Red" O'Hanlon revealed that, while going through club archives recently, he uncovered a quantity of letters from youngsters who wanted to fish. He picked out one, sent in 1972, which he said indicates what the Dodder anglers' is all about:
"Dear Commandant Cusack, I wish to apply for membership of the Dodder angling club. I am 15 years old and very interested in fishing. I have a fishing rod and about 11 fly hooks for trout. I hope you sincerely consider my application and if I am refused I will not be disappointed but glad to know you considered my application. Yours sincerely, Declan Baird.
PS My father was on the phone to Mrs Cusack and she advised me to apply."
The evening belonged to Rory Harkin of Rory's Tackle Shop in Temple Bar. As a founder member, he has played a huge part towards the success of the DAA. In fact, the first meeting of the club was held in his sittingroom.
"But for Rory the Dodder anglers' may not now exist," O'Hanlon said.
In memory of his wife Miriam who died earlier this year, Rory presented a once-off trophy to the club. The recipient was the winner of a fishing competition on Lough Lene, the very popular Patrick (Paddy) Conneff.
• Following a series of well-attended meetings of charter skippers earlier this year at Central Fisheries Board (CFB) headquarters in Swords, Co Dublin, it was decided to form a new association whereby skippers could "get action" on a raft of relevant issues at national and international level.
However, the Irish Charter Skippers Association (ICSA) will reach its full potential only if it gets a strong membership, said its steering committee chairman, Donal Kennedy. "I would encourage all skippers to sign up."
The CFB for its part acceded to act as facilitator and, in this regard, agreed to formulate a draft constitution for discussion. The existing Northwest Charter Skippers' Association and Professional Boatmen Association were suggested as role models.
Notification of the new association has already been acknowledged by relevant Government departments and their agencies. Indeed, offers of help and cooperation have been forthcoming.
Topics presently under consideration include concerns relating to surveying of boats and licensing requirements; marketing of Ireland as an angling destination and seeking group deals on insurance and life-raft hire, etc.
However, the main work of the ICSA is to increase membership and to progress towards its first agm in the spring of 2009. For further details contact Donal Kennedy at dak@eircom.net
• Tuam Anglers' Association is holding its annual general meeting next Sunday in the Rustic Vaults, Vicer Street, Tuam, Co Galway at 5pm. New members are welcome.