Grants for tourism

Funding of almost €1 million has been allocated to 10 tourism projects around the State, Minister for Sport and Tourism Séamus…

Funding of almost €1 million has been allocated to 10 tourism projects around the State, Minister for Sport and Tourism Séamus Brennan, has announced, writes Derek Evans.

The grants approved include €190,000 towards a beach management programme in Co Kerry and more than €63,000 for angling facilities in Co Wexford.

The focus of the allocation, issued under Fáilte Ireland's Tourism Infrastructure Fund, is on supporting local authorities and infrastructure providers to develop facilities for tourists. The fund targets facilities such as jetties and moorings, angling stands and signposting. Kilmore Quay is the lucky recipient of the latest funding with €63,750 grant aid towards development of angling facilities.

Brennan said: "Funding of €15.7 million is available in 2008 to support investment in our key tourism infrastructure facilities in need of upgrading and development, and to bring on stream new products to meet the sophisticated needs of a more discerning international visitor."

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Following a series of dismal performances at world shore angling events, the Ireland team manager, Tom Lillis, proposed radical changes to the method of selection of the team at international level. "Give me three years and I will get results," he told delegates at the agm of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers (IFSA) in Athlone.

In short, the top 10 anglers from the previous two years' master-angler competitions (apart from the winnert) would form a pool of 30 to compete in a "fish-off competition" to select the international team. The winner of the previous year's event would automatically be declared captain.

Earlier this month the "fish-off" to select the remaining four members of the international team for 2008 was held in Connemara, Co Galway, according to Brian Cooke, IFSA press officer. The competition was organised by Connaught Council with stewarding overseen by Fergus Collins. Thirty anglers competed over three sessions along the spectacular coastline beaches of Lettergesh, Renville and Gurteen Bay.

The first session at Lettergesh produced mostly flounder and a lone ray for Timothy O'Sullivan from Waterville. It was the most productive of the three sessions, with half of the field catching fish.

The night session on Renville was expected to produce dogfish but they proved elusive, with only one taken by Noel Fogarty from the Raheny club. Predominant species were small coalfish and pollack, backed up by rockling, according to Cooke.

An onshore wind and loose weed made fishing difficult for the final session on picturesque Gurteen Bay. As predicted by Collins, the last half hour of the competition at the bottom of the tide produced several ray. Unfortunately, most were under the size limit of 45cm wingspan.

The top five anglers have now come through very testing conditions and proved their consistency over the sessions to take their place on the Irish team that will compete in Biarritz, France, later this year.

The shore team is: 1, J Snoddy (Glengormley); 2, C Scanlon (Cuckoos Nest); 3 A McCallion (Portstewart); 4, T O'Sullivan (Waterville); 5, T McAdam (Dublin Telesport).

At the time of writing five salmon have been caught so far this season - four from the River Drowes in Co Leitrim and one from the Waterville Fishery in Co Kerry.

On the Drowes, a second salmon was caught by Colin Gardiner from Co Armagh last Friday week. Gardiner is also credited with the first salmon on opening day. His second fish weighed 4.2kg and fell to a Flying "C" from the Boathouse Pool.

Recently, two further salmon were caught from the Red Roof Beat and Lennox's Bridge, and both fish opted for Flying "C" lures. William Bowles from Cork was the toast of Waterville on opening day (January 17th) with the first salmon of the season from the famous Butler Pool.

The Loughs Agency invites Expressions of Interest from organisations and individuals for financial assistance to support the development of marine tourism and/or angling. Information sessions will be held tonight in the Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh, Co Tyrone, and on Wednesday at 7pm in the Foyle Hotel, Moville, Co Donegal.

Contact funding@loughs-agency.orgor 028-71342100 (NI) and 048-71342100 (RoI).

At Corkagh Park Fishery in Dublin, the trout lake continues to produce bumper catches. Local angler Rodney Gaynor caught 15 to 2.7kg, while Jimmy Finnegan and Paul McBrian had 12 and 10 rainbows, respectively. Contact Godfrey, tel: 01-4592622 and fishing@ireland.com.