{"id":701,"date":"2026-01-26T19:30:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T19:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/?p=701"},"modified":"2026-01-26T19:30:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T19:30:57","slug":"corrib-beo-partnership-ltd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/2026\/01\/26\/corrib-beo-partnership-ltd\/","title":{"rendered":"Corrib Beo Partnership Ltd"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\u2018Hands across the Corrib\u2019 8 September 2024, A large number of people enjoyed boat trips between Knockferry and Kilbeg for events on both piers<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What\u2019s stirring in the Corrib?<\/strong> \u2013 Sir William Wilde, in his book \u2018Wilde\u2019s Lough Corrib: Its Shores and Islands<\/em>\u2019 (1867) gave a marvellous introduction to the history and folklore of Lough Corrib, which was seen as the \u2019jewel in the crown\u2019 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: \u2018Lough 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\u2019s so beautiful, why do we trash it?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n

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Camera Shy: Members of Corrib Beo, Gerry Lydon, Hazel Morrison and<\/em> Denis Goggins, who help carry out the group’s mission of \u2018Connecting Corrib<\/em> Communities\u2019<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Some Hopeful Signs <\/strong>\u2013 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\u2019s natural beauty with Helena McElmeel and her \u2018Project 471\u2019. There was a good turnout for \u2018Hands across the Corrib\u2019 on September 8th<\/sup> 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 \u2018Corrib Princess\u2019 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 \u2018there was keen interest to form a network to share knowledge and ideas.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n

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Jen Cunningham leading out<\/em> Corrib Beo’s Eco Advocates<\/em> Program, kayaking and water sampling Galway’s waterways with<\/em> TYs from Galway schools<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Activities \u00a0\u00a0 \u2013<\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0 Since \u00a0\u00a0 2019, Corrib Beo\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Eco Advocates pilot primary schools studying what’s below the Corrib<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Water and Environment (New Post)<\/strong> \u2013 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 Gr\u00e1inne 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, C\u00e1irde an Chlair, the Oughterard Anglers and others) aiming to protect and restore Ireland\u2019s 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 \u2018Farming for Waters\u2019 can provide a real boost to restoration work in the smaller streams that flow into the Lake.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Corrib Beo Fishery\u2019s Walk with Seamus Hertigan 2024<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Heritage \u2013<\/strong> 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: \u201cCorrib Shores \u2013 These are our People\u201d at Galway City Museum in summer 2023, supported by Galway County Council. This exhibition was a joint effort with 11 community groups, from M\u00e1igh Cuilinn, Collinamuck, Oughterard, Corr na M\u00f3na, 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a keen interest in the program of Corrib Beo events during Heritage Week, 2024; these included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(1):<\/strong> A guided walk on the mill heritage of Galway City with Phil James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(2):<\/strong> A history of Forthill graveyard by William Henry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(3):<\/strong> A talk, \u2018Stone Portals, the Keys to Galway\u2019 by Brian Nolan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(4):<\/strong> A joint lecture by Dr M\u00e1irin Nic Eoin and Dr Jessica Cooke on Cu\u00e1n and other early Irish saints with Corrib links at St Nicholas Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(5):<\/strong> A guided walk by Seamas Hartigan on the history of the Galway fishery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(6):<\/strong> Monastic Tour on the eastern side of Lough Corrib.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(7):<\/strong> Due to weather conditions, the \u2019Hands across the Corrib 2024\u201d event had to be moved from 25 August, but it went ahead on Sunday 8th<\/sup> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, Hazel Morrison worked again with Corrib communities and heritage groups from Annaghdown, Cong Moytura, Corrib 471 Project, Donaghpatrick Kilcoona, D\u00faiche Sheoigheach Corr na M\u00f3na, Galway City, Headford, Killannin, Collinamuck, Menlo, Moycullen and Oughterard on the latest exhibition: \u201cCorrib shores \u2013 This is our Place\u201d. The exhibition was launched on 12 October and ran until the end of November. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Corrib Beo Exhibition in Galway City Museum 2023<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Future Evolution? \u2013<\/strong> 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 \u2013 as Wilde saw it, the \u2018jewel on the crown\u2019 of the west of Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note:<\/strong> For more information \u2013 Visit Website: www.Corribbeo.org or email: corribbeo@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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.\u00a0 What\u2019s stirring in the Corrib? \u2013 Sir William Wilde, in his book \u2018Wilde\u2019s Lough Corrib: Its … Continue reading “Corrib Beo Partnership Ltd”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[184],"tags":[246,245,247,114],"class_list":["post-701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-galway-musings","tag-biodiversity","tag-corrib-beo","tag-sustainability","tag-the-corrib"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=701"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":708,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701\/revisions\/708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/galwaysown.ie\/Galway%20Stories\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}