The Shannon Board recognises the on going need to market and develop the angling product within its region. It targets two main groups, existing Irish anglers and overseas tourist anglers. It especially considers anglers with special needs and young people who need that extra bit of assistance, encouragement and angling/environmental education.

On April 29th 1997 the former President of Ireland Mary Robinson opened an angling Loch for people with special needs ' Loch an Dochais' ( Lake of Hope) at Boora Parklands, Kilcormac Co Offaly. The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, KDA ( Kilcormac Development Association ) and Bord na Mona were all instrumental in the success of this project. The facility was later and will continue to be used by the Board as an Angling Training Centre for juvenile anglers.

Over recent years this Board has taken part in angling fairs abroad where we provide tourist anglers with information on the Region.

Angling and Environmental Education

There is the need for developing an interest in the sport and the value of recreation is very important. This is particularly so in the case of young anglers who need development at a young age. In the recent past special angling instruction and environmental education programmes were devised by Board staff, inviting young anglers to attend class room sessions and field trips on a number of Saturdays. These programmes included the introduction of such educational initiatives and activities as:

Demonstration of rod handling techniques, mounting of fishing tackle, fishing knots, fly tying tools, fly dressing skills, discussion of environmental awareness and conservation issues, Water Safety, Introduction to the Ecology of freshwater 'Aquatic fly life', prepared handouts and field trips.

The response and interest was very encouraging and sets the stage for further initiatives here This programme may also be extended to include adult education programmes and further developed officially through the educational curricula of the primary and secondary schools of Ireland.

Angling Information and Advisory Service

The Board sets as one of its important objectives to promote Inland Fisheries and to support and assist the marketing of angling and tourism angling in the Region, in a sustainable manner for the benefit of local communities. As part of a marketing strategy in achieving these goals, the Board will in the future devise and seek to realise a strategic and integrated approach to effective market research by continuing to liase and reciprocate in a meaningful way with such organisations as the Irish Tourist Board ' An Bord Failte', Shannon Development and other Regional Tourism Authorities, Angling Tour Operators, Hoteliers/Guest houses and other involved groups in the angling service industry. In addition a well operated Angling Information and Advisory Service which invites feedback is paramount in seeking to assess and identify the markets needs. Presently through email we invite the angling public to give us feedback on any aspect of the Inland Fishery and supporting Service industry and to suggest ways of extending or improving the information base on the web site. We now have feedback questionnaires which will provide an interactive means of communication with you. This will assist the process of assessing and identifying the needs of anglers and other groups in the angling service industry. This will inevitably create a very worthwhile and effective platform for planned market research in the future.

As part of our improved Angling Information Service the Shannon Board will collect and maintain reliable angling data and will in the future aim to provide walk- in angling information centres at venues around the region. Here visitors will have an unprecedented opportunity to access and retrieve such angling information as recent and available angling updates and selective angling guide maps etc. At present there are a number of ‘Cyber Cafes’ nation-wide which may be used to access our pages on the Internet.

For further information contact Mr Eamon Cusack, Chief Officer, Thomond Weir, Limerick Tel +353 (0)61 455171

Angling Enquiries to Email info@shannon-fishery-board.ie or Brian Mc Manus at Tel +353 509 20883 Fax: +353 (0)509 21756 or Tel: +353 (0)509 20883