Residents of East Clare are being invited to share their views on the health of local rivers.

Flagmount Digital Hub is the venue for open consultation with the Waters of LIFE project on Tuesday July 30^th and Thursday August 1^st. Waters of LIFE are an EU-funded project trialling water quality measures that work for local communities.

The project is gathering local knowledge on the Graney sub-catchment and developing an action plan for the area. The sub-catchment includes Lough Graney, Lough Atorick, Bleach river, Graney river, Corra river and Dromindoora river. Water quality solutions identified will be used to feed into future national and EU policy.

There is an afternoon session (12:30 to 14:30) and evening session (18:30 to 20:30) on both days. No appointment is necessary and locals are welcome to drop in and chat with catchment scientist John Kelly.  

“We want to hear from people who live in the area and have something to say about its rivers,” says Kelly. “Tell us about any issues or changes you’ve seen over the years. Having those chats and drawing from local expertise will really help us to review and update our approach.”

The project was first introduced to the East Clare community at a public meeting in Flagmount in October 2022. Since then, a desk study and local catchment assessment has been completed by the Local Authority Waters Programme to identify pressures and issues affecting local water bodies. Waters of LIFE will present a catchment management plan for the area at public meeting later in the year.

They are also looking to meet directly with local community groups. Interested groups are asked to email info@watersoflife.ie so a meeting can be arranged.  

Drop-in consultation dates: Tuesday July 30^th and Thursday August 1^st

Times: 12:30 to 14:30; 18:30 to 20:30 (Both days).

Location: Flagmount Digital Hub (beside Flagmount National School), Flagmount, Co. Clare

A full map of the Graney demonstration sub-catchment is available at https://www.watersoflife.ie/catchments/graney/

Consultation events for other demonstration catchments are as follows:

Avonmore demonstration sub-catchment:

Wednesday 7th, Brockagh Resource Centre, Co. Wicklow (12:30 to 14:30; 18:00 to 20:00)

Thursday 8th July, Brockagh Resource Centre, Co. Wicklow (12:30 to 14:30; 18:00 to 20:00)

Awbeg (Kilbrin) demonstration sub-catchment:

Monday 12th August, Kilbrin Village Hub, Co. Cork (12:30 to 14:30; 18:00 to 20:00)

Wednesday 14th August, Kilbrin Village Hub, Co. Cork (12:30 to 14:30; 18:00 to 20:00)

Shournagh demonstration sub-catchment:

Tuesday 13th August, Courtbrack Community Centre, Co. Cork (12:30 to 14:30; 18:00 to 20:00)

Thursday 15th August, Courtbrack Community Centre, Co. Cork (12:30 to 14:30; 18:00 to 20:00)

Islands demonstration sub-catchment:

Wednesday 21st August, Williamstown Parish Hall, Co. Galway (12:30 to 14:30; 18:00 to 20:00)

Thursday 22nd August, EK Digital Hub, Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon (12:30 to 14:30; 18:00 to 20:00)