Helping Mayo communities care for their water
This exciting training programme was designed for people in County Mayo who are interested in protecting and developing their local streams, rivers, loughs and wetlands. The course was available to people in the Moy catchment (east Mayo, including the Castlebar and Ballina areas) and south Mayo lakes area. It ran from September 2021 to June 2022.
Starting in September 2021, participants had the opportunity to learn about their local water resources, go on-site to apply the learning, and develop projects that will have a positive impact on local water quality.
Mayo Communities Caring For Water Training schedule (Block 1 of training, Autumn 2021)
Two short Introductory evening sessions via Zoom for all participants. These sessions ran from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Registered participants received Zoom links by email.
| Date | For | Content |
| Mon, 11 Oct 2021 | All participants | Introduction of trainers and participants, aims for the training course, Introduction to water catchments and waterbodies in Mayo. |
| Mon, 18 Oct 2021 | All participants | Water Quality, Impacts & Solutions |
Outdoor sessions (riverside walks, not in-stream). These daylong sessions ran from 9:30 am.
| Day | Date | River/Lake | For participants from; |
| Sat | Dec 11th | Bolinglanna Stream, Keel Lough | North Clew Bay group (Newport, Corraun, Mulranny, Achill) |
| Sun | Oct 31st | Carrowniskey, Doo Lough, Glenummera | South Clew Bay group (Louisburgh, Killeen, Delphi valley) |
| Sat | Nov 13th | Manulla River | Belcarra, Castlebar |
| Sun | Nov 14th | Lough Carra @ Moore Hall | Communities around Lough Carra. |
| Sat | Dec 4th | Pollagh/Trimoge, Urlaur Lough | Kiltimagh, Ballyhaunis, Swinford |
| Sun | Dec 5th | Straide, Lough Cullin, Gweestion | Straide, Foxford, Ballina, Knockmore. |
Download the Application Form (MSWord)
or
Download the Application Form (pdf)
The programme is now completed. The website remains as an archive with lots of information and photographs from the field trips plus a set of links to water-related information that hopefully will be useful in follow-on projects developed during the programme.
Brought to you by the Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO), and funded under the Mayo LEADER Programme by South West Mayo Development Company on behalf of Mayo Local Action Group, Mayo Communities Caring for Water is a practical and hands-on training course.
‘On behalf of Mayo County Council and LAWPRO, I am delighted to have Martin McGarrigle and Ken Whelan as trainers on this programme. This is terrific opportunity for Mayo people to learn from some of the best in water conservation in Ireland’, said Tom Carolan, Communities Water Officer, LAWPRO.
[People are invited to register for the Mayo Communities Caring for Water training programme by contacting Tom at tomcarolan@lawaters.ie or Martin @ limnos.consultancy@gmail.com]
Learn about the myriad of life forms in County Mayo’s unique streams, rivers and loughs
Do you want to learn about the ecology and biodiversity of your local streams, rivers, loughs and wetlands?
Do you want some practical and hands-on engagement with these local waters?
Would you like to learn, share ideas, gain expertise in the areas of water conservation and protection?
Then this course is for you!
All are welcome: Tidy Town members, farmers, anglers, walkers, wildlife groups, teachers and anyone with an interest in water protection, conservation and management.