Corrib Beo is an organization dedicated to the sustainable development of the Lough Corrib and its surrounding catchment. This group came together in 2018, following decades of pollution, biodiversity loss and general water quality decline on the Lough Corrib.
What’s stirring in the Corrib? – Sir William Wilde, in his book ‘Wilde’s Lough Corrib: Its Shores and Islands’ (1867) gave a marvellous introduction to the history and folklore of Lough Corrib, which was seen as the ’jewel in the crown’ of the west of Ireland in the Victorian era. In recent years, however, there are dark clouds and a brooding silence over the fate of this beautiful lake and landscape. There is a growing, shared belief that the Corrib is at risk of serious environmental decline, its fishing as a sport has suffered. The Corrib has gradually lost its identity and its sense of place at the heart of Galway life. Cilian Roden, the Kinvara based ecologist, put it simply at a talk in 2023: ‘Lough Corrib, along with Mask and Carra, have continuously declining water quality, cryptosporidium and toxin algae. It is a spent land, with cutover bogs, peaty fields, conifers on half drained bog and sad, abandoned houses. If it’s so beautiful, why do we trash it?’
Some Hopeful Signs – Nevertheless, there are also signs of a growing public awareness and interest in protecting the Corrib. This summer, we have seen young people enjoying the lake’s natural beauty with Helena McElmeel and her ‘Project 471’. There was a good turnout for ‘Hands across the Corrib’ on September 8th and a keen interest in the Corrib Monastic tour during Heritage week. There have been several film crews focussing on the Corrib story. A common thread in these events is the work of a voluntary group called Corrib Beo. The foundations for Corrib Beo were laid at an event on the ‘Corrib Princess’ sponsored by the Local Authorities Waters Office (LAWPRO) in September 2018. The feedback from the participants, who represented thirty community, environment and angling groups around the Corrib, was that ‘there was keen interest to form a network to share knowledge and ideas.’
Activities – Since 2019, Corrib Beo’s activities have evolved in the areas of Education, Environment, Heritage, and Recreation. Working with EcoEd4All, National Park City and angling groups, Jen Cunningham has co-developed and delivered a place-based learning programme for Transition Year (TY) students. This program, called Eco Advocates, focuses on water quality and environmental impact assessment in the Corrib Catchment. Over the past three years, it has engaged over 600 TY students in Galway, involving water sampling and encouraging action-based environmental projects. Taken as a whole, Corrib Beo’s advocacy, education and cultural projects aims to re-kindle a sense of Corrib identity, to restore a sense of community pride and care for the lake.
Water and Environment (New Post) – In August 2024, Corrib Beo announced the appointment of Jennifer (Jen) Cunningham of Galway as Project Officer, with the help of funding from the LAWPRO Catchment Support Fund. Jen is well known in Galway water sports and has been a leader in the Gráinne Mhaol rowing club. Thanks to the steady work of Jen as Project Officer, and with support from LAWPRO, Corrib Beo is building links with a range of Corrib angling and community groups, working towards a more effective Corrib structure. Corrib Beo is glad to work with the members of the new Corrib Catchment Partnership (including East Corrib Alliance, Cáirde an Chlair, the Oughterard Anglers and others) aiming to protect and restore Ireland’s second largest lake and its catchment. While mindful of the challenges, given the scale of the Corrib catchment, there is some optimism that new projects such as ‘Farming for Waters’ can provide a real boost to restoration work in the smaller streams that flow into the Lake.
Heritage – The Corrib Beo team has worked to promote a shared sense of Corrib heritage. Led by Hazel Morrison, they worked with Brendan Mac Gabhann, Galway City Museum Education officer and with communities around the Corrib to create an exhibition: “Corrib Shores – These are our People” at Galway City Museum in summer 2023, supported by Galway County Council. This exhibition was a joint effort with 11 community groups, from Máigh Cuilinn, Collinamuck, Oughterard, Corr na Móna, Cong, Headford, Donaghpatrick/Kilcoona, Menlo and Galway. The banners have been seen in many venues around the Corrib this year. Based on the great reaction, it is seen as the start of a series of events around the culture of the Corrib, including its history, fisheries and natural capital.
There was a keen interest in the program of Corrib Beo events during Heritage Week, 2024; these included:
(1): A guided walk on the mill heritage of Galway City with Phil James.
(2): A history of Forthill graveyard by William Henry.
(3): A talk, ‘Stone Portals, the Keys to Galway’ by Brian Nolan.
(4): A joint lecture by Dr Máirin Nic Eoin and Dr Jessica Cooke on Cuán and other early Irish saints with Corrib links at St Nicholas Church.
(5): A guided walk by Seamas Hartigan on the history of the Galway fishery.
(6): Monastic Tour on the eastern side of Lough Corrib.
(7): Due to weather conditions, the ’Hands across the Corrib 2024” event had to be moved from 25 August, but it went ahead on Sunday 8th September, thanks to the great work of Gerry Lydon and his team. There was music, crafts, stands by East Corrib Alliance and Inland Fisheries, a lovely Indian dancer and lots of takers for the fast boat trips between Knockferry and Kilbeg piers, rebuilding the idea of linking both sides of the Corrib.
In 2024, Hazel Morrison worked again with Corrib communities and heritage groups from Annaghdown, Cong Moytura, Corrib 471 Project, Donaghpatrick Kilcoona, Dúiche Sheoigheach Corr na Móna, Galway City, Headford, Killannin, Collinamuck, Menlo, Moycullen and Oughterard on the latest exhibition: “Corrib shores – This is our Place”. The exhibition was launched on 12 October and ran until the end of November.
Future Evolution? – Corrib Beo would like to continue to play an active role in the delivery of the new Water Action Plan, 2024/2027, which provides for 42 Catchment plans around Ireland. Corrib Beo will seek to work with communities and official bodies (Galway City and County Council, EPA) to strengthen the role of public participation in the Corrib environment. They look forward to working with Corrib communities, agencies, educational groups and partners to achieve the vision of a restored Corrib ecosystem – as Wilde saw it, the ‘jewel on the crown’ of the west of Ireland.
Note: For more information – Visit Website: www.Corribbeo.org or email: corribbeo@gmail.com