Waterways Ireland and the Central Fisheries Board Launch Series of Definitive Canal Angling Guides

Waterways Ireland launched a series of definitive canal angling guides at the National Angling Show, Cloughran, Swords on Saturday, 19th February. The guides focus on four locations: Edenderry, Leixlip, Enfield and a guide to disabled facilities on the Grand Canal and Barrow navigation.

Waterways Ireland and the Central Fisheries Board work closely together to promote the excellent angling opportunities along the Canals in Ireland. This joint collaboration resulted in the production of handy reference guides that contain concise and up to date information to enable anglers to enjoy fishing to the full. The Guides include maps, illustrations, descriptions and comprehensive directions to angling locations and match stretches along with details on parking, pegs, towpaths and other information required by coarse anglers. This is the first time that this information has been compiled in a handy reference style booklet. The guide will be distributed free of charge to all angling centres in Ireland and the UK.

Speaking at the Launch, Martin Dennany, Director of Marketing and Communications with Waterways Ireland said, 'Waterways Ireland is responsible for managing, maintaining, developing and restoring the inland navigable waterways principally for recreational purposes. In 2004, the Waterways Ireland research showed that Angling accounted for 20% of all activity on the waterways and in recognition of the importance of Angling and with a view to developing the resource further, Waterways Ireland have developed the series of Angling Guides being launched here today. In addition, the 'Facilities for Disabled Anglers on the Grand Canal and Barrow Navigation Guide' is one of a number of initiatives being introduced by Waterways Ireland as part of the development of an 'Access for All' policy which aims to widen access to the waterways as well as improving the access to information on the Waterways Ireland facilities'

Dr Joe Caffrey, Senior Research Officer, Central Fisheries Board also added 'We are delighted to be involved in this innovative project and we hope that this series will be the start of further initiatives to promote canal angling in Ireland. The Central Fisheries Board has gained a great deal of experience of all aspects of fisheries over the last 25 years. Therefore, we welcomed the opportunity to share our expertise with Waterways Ireland to produce these handy reference guides'

Copies of all four of the Definitive Canal Angling Guides may be obtained free of charge from the Waterways Ireland Marketing and Communications Division at +353 71 9650787 (Carrick on Shannon) or +44 28 66346 219 (Enniskillen).

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For further information, please contact:
Aoife Morrissy, Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland,
00 353 71 9650787 or 00 353 87 9918412, or Hazel Dobbyn, PR Officer, Central Fisheries Board, 00 353 1 8842656/00353 87 9918608