New angling boats provided for Lough Mask and Lough Corrib

THE Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, has announced the launch of two new government grant-aided angling boats at Clonbur Angling Centre which will improve access to fishing on Loughs Mask and Corrib.

Minister Ring said: “The new boats will be used by local and visiting anglers on Lough Corrib and Lough Mask in counties Mayo and Galway and will not only boost the tourism angling offer in these areas but will also be available free of charge to novice anglers via angling clubs or associations which promote novice angling.

“This is an important feature of the support funding to encourage more young people, through the guidance of angling clubs, into fishing as a healthy outdoor leisure activity.

“I commend my colleague, Sean Canney, the Minister with responsibility for the Inland Fisheries sector for supporting the government’s funding of this valuable local initiative.”

The boats, which were purchased with funding from Inland Fisheries Ireland’s National Strategy for Angling Development funding scheme, are 19-foot in length and will add to the centre’s existing fleet.

Lough Mask and Lough Corrib are popular angling destinations in the west of Ireland with anglers looking to fish for trout.

Clonbur Angling Centre is a private business which provides a complete self-catering package to anglers from angling boats and equipment to village and lakeshore accommodation.

The centre has three angling tour operators from Germany, Switzerland and France who regularly use the centre to facilitate tourists looking to fish in the area.

The centre successfully applied for €4,000 from Inland Fisheries Ireland’s funding scheme to expand its fishing fleet with the new boats now available for hire at a reasonable cost.

The boats will also be accessible free of charge to novice anglers via angling clubs or associations which promote novice angling.