Source: Athenry Fas Teamwork Scheme (1991-1993)

Team Leader: Mrs. Marie Fahy.

Sponsors: Athenry Project Society

Athenry Angling Club was founded in 1971 by a small group of keen anglers. It has 40 senior members s at present. Membership is £5. There is no need for Salomon fishing.

The committee consists of:

Chairman – Cyril MacNamara;

Treasurer- Michael Doherty;

Assistant Chairman – Tom Cheevers

Fish and Pollution

The three most popular types of fish caught in the river are Brown Trout, Spawing Salmon and Eels.   However, due to farmers dumping slurry and effluent there has been fish-kills in various parts of the river with the matter coming to head earlier this year when an important stretch between Carrowtubber and Graigabbey has been wiped out due to pollution.

River Statistics

The river is approximately 8-10 miles in length, starting at Newcastle and flowing out to sea at Clarinbridge.  There are many bridges over the river and over a 4 mile stretch there are up to 12 such bridges. There are no major tributaries. However, a little stream joins at Newcastle. The water in the river is ideal for fishing because it has the right mixture of bog water. The depth is 4 – 5 feet in places and as low as 8 -12 inches in other places.

Anglers put back investment into the Clarin

The Angling Club has plans to develop the river as a better fishing river by the building of a series of dams along the river. The forward thinking and positive attitude of one of Athenry’s most active and progressive clubs has resulted in the local river being stocked with in excess of 10,000 salmon fry.

Last Thursday, members of Athenry Anglers Club were present when officers from Western Fisheries, to which the Athenry club is affiliated, delivered two loads of salmon fry to the Claran River. The first, consisting of 5,000 fry, was stocked in the river between Mulpit and the town, and the second load of over 5,000 were stocked between Ballydavid and Cahertubber.

Competitions

The club, which has 40 adult members and almost 50 junior members, see this re-stocking of the river as vital to future angling in the Athenry area, and hope that from next season, their very popular junior fishing competitions can be held in the town.

At present their competitions, eight of which they held in the past season, are held on a stretch of the Clare River between Lisheenavalla and Lackagh. The members are extremely grateful to the local farmers in that area for their permission and goodwill.

Development Plan

Another progressive project is at present in its planning stages at the club. Followng a FAS Scheme in 1989, which monitored the water levels in the Claran River with experimental dams, the club prepared a detailed development plan for the river and its immediate environs, which would include erecting dams, cleaning, pointing and grouting the walls of the river, adjusting the banks and providing walks and seating between the river bank and the back of Athenry Castle. This plan was backed by Frank Fahey T.D. who attended a meeting of the club last May.

The complete plan was coted at £26,000 and an application for National Lottery funds has resulted in a grant of £5,000 being allocated to the club, with a promise of more to come. The club intend placing the contract for the development with a reputable contractor.

The club have just this week been assured by Western Fisheries that trout will be stocked in the river during the coming year.

“Earthwatch”

In the immediate future they intend to take samples of water from local rivers and lakes. The results will be incorporated in a national survey, the results of which will be published by “Earthwatch” in the coming year.

For the members of Athenry Anglers Club, the months leading up to the opening of next season will be very busy indeed.