Press Release 9th October 2007
Ladies Fly-fishing Courses Prove to be a Resounding Success
Slaney River Trust in conjunction with the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board and Central Fisheries Board with funding provided by the INTERREG IIIA programme hosted three ladies fly-fishing courses in July, August and October of this year and they proved to be a resounding success.
The first fish of the day was caught by Francis O'Morochoe
Initially, one course was planned but due to the phenomenal response received, two further courses were organized to cater for the demand. All courses were held in the Wicklow area in Annamoe Trout Fishery and Rathcon Fishery and attracted more than 40 women from all over the country. Instead of a fee to cover instruction, participants were invited to give a donation to Action Breast Cancer. All participants were extremely generous and the total contribution raised from all three courses was €2,765.
The most recent and final course was held at Rathcon Fishery on Sunday, 7th October. Ten women took part ranging in age from 17 years to 69 years and travelled from Dublin, Wexford, Tipperary and Limerick. The first fish of the day was caught by 17 year old, Francis O’Morchoe from Wexford. A few minutes later on the same bank, Fiona Grant from Limerick successfully landed a beautiful 5.5lb rainbow trout. It certainly put up a fight and it took half an hour to play and land the fish. Siobhan O’Keeffe from Dublin was thrilled to catch the last fish for the day and did a great job landing the fish with assistance from Betty Hayes. In total, 4 fish were caught and 2 got away.
Fiona Grant of Limerick caught the second fish.
The introductory courses offered participants the chance to learn from one of the best instructors in Ireland, Glenda Powell assisted by Mark Corps, Angling Advisor for the Central Fisheries Board, Betty Hayes, Eastern Regional Fisheries Board member and representative for Slaney River Foundation and Glenda’s husband, Ian Powell. Indeed, the fact that the course instruction was led by a female instructor proved to be one of the main reasons women signed up for the course.
Well done to all who took part.
The Slaney River Trust and the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board are delighted with the success of this first series of Ladies Fly-fishing courses. Both organisations would like to sincerely thank Brian Nally of Annamoe Trout Fishery and the Page Family of Rathcon Fishery for allowing us access to their excellent facilities and for their assistance on each day. The Slaney River Trust and the ERFB would also like to extend their thanks to the fantastic instructors, Glenda & Ian Powell, Mark Corps and Betty Hayes who kindly gave up their time and managed to foster a great deal of interest and enthusiasm in fly-fishing from each of the three groups and to Loop for kindly providing all the fishing equipment for each course.
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For more information on fishing in the Eastern Region, please contact Marketing Angling Co-ordinator, Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, 01-2787022 or visit www.fishingireland.net
Notes to Editor:
Slaney River Trust represents clubs, fishery owners, anglers and naturalists on the River Slaney. We are committed to working in partnership with communities in the Slaney Valley, with Government at national and local level, as well as others who have an interest in improving the ecology, fisheries and wildlife of the river.
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board is a statutory authority whose function is to conserve, develop, protect, manage and promote the inland fisheries and sea angling resources within its jurisdiction. The Region extends from the border in Northern Ireland to South of the Wexford coast and includes all catchments which enter the sea between these boundaries. For further information, please visit www.fishingireland.net
The principal functions of the Central Fisheries Board are to advise the Minister for Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources on policy relating to the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries and sea angling, to support, coordinate and provide specialist support services to the Regional Fisheries Boards and to advise the Minister on the performance by the Regional Fisheries Boards of their functions.
Action Breast Cancer is a national programme established by the Irish Cancer Society to provide breast cancer information and support and to fund breast cancer research. Services are free, confidential and accessible and include:
- A National Helpline - staffed by specialist cancer nurses, Freefone 1800 30 90 40
- Information - booklets, fact sheets and website.
- Health Promotion - providing community and workplace programmes on breast cancer awareness and early detection
- Reach to Recovery programme - one-to-one emotional support provided by former breast cancer patients.
- Research - funding vital Irish breast cancer research that will have a significant impact on diagnosis and treatment.
- Advocacy - providing a voice for women with breast cancer in Ireland.