StreamScapes Loobagh – A New Environmental Initiative

Limerick City and County Council have announced details of a pilot environmental initiative, ‘StreamScapes Loobagh’, which will focus on the aquatic and biodiversity resources of the River Loobagh catchment in south County Limerick during the coming weeks.

Anne Goggin, Senior Executive Engineer with Limerick City and County Council said: “We are utilising the award-winning ‘StreamScapes’ programme to enable communities of the River Loobagh to learn about the important links between high status local water quality and human health, thriving socio-economy, higher value agricultural produce and biodiversity.  We are excited to be producing this programme and encourage people to engage.”

The initiative will involve field studies and theory sessions with seven local schools and three community groups, and will be backed up by a dedicated local environmental booklet which will be widely and freely distributed throughout Loobagh communities.

“It is an entirely achievable goal to have flourishing agriculture, forestry, and industry and still conserve our local water quality and a rich biodiversity, which also drives tourism and other economic engines”, said Mark Boyden, StreamScapes Project Director of Coomhola Salmon Trust of Bantry, Co Cork who are working with Limerick City and County Council to produce the programme.  

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“The twin keys to unlocking this potential involve awareness of the bounty that clean waters support, and the ‘best-practices’ which can minimise our impacts.”

“At the heart of the methodology is a celebration of local assets; aquatic, agricultural, biodiversity, heritage and culture,” Mr. Boyden continued.  “By engaging with a small critical mass of local population we hope to build a currency of these issues, leading to not only cleaner rivers but a wider enriching of local communities.”

The dates for the Community Evenings are as follows:

Monday, April 27^th Kilfinane: Meet at 7pm in the car park of the Mill Bar. Visit to river followed by meeting and refreshments afterwards in McCarthy’s Lounge.

Monday, May 11^th Ardpatrick: Meet at 7pm in church car park. Visit to river followed by meeting and refreshments in local community hall.  

Monday, May 18^th Kilmallock: Meet at 7pm in car park of Deebert House Hotel. Visit to river followed by meeting and refreshments afterwards in the hotel. 

Read more about Limerick City and County Council here.