River Suck chosen for long-term LIFE project

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galway daily news river suck project
Pictured are Liz MacDonald (Rural Social Scheme Supervisor), Malcolm Noonan (Minister of State for Heritage), and Steve Dolan (CEO, Galway Rural Development) at the launch of the EU-funded Waters of LIFE Integrated Project at the Deebert House Hotel in Kilmallock.

Galway Rural Development has announced that it will be among the key stakeholders for an environmental project along sections of the River Suck over the next five years.

The aim of the ‘Waters of LIFE’ project is to maintain the standard of the river and to reverse any deterioration as part of the wider River Basin Management Plan.

The project will work with state agencies, local authorities, landowners, stakeholders, and local communities in six pilot catchments nationally.

Steve Dolan, GDR CEO, said that they are delighted to be involved, and that the project will shine a light on the unique aspects of the Suck.

“We’d like to thank the ‘Waters of Life’ project manager Anne Goggin, and the CEO of IRD Duhallow Maura Walsh for their guidance and dedication,” he said.

“They have been supporting our efforts thus far and it’s thanks to them that East Galway will to be part of this national project.

“Within GRD, we’ve done much groundwork already. With the help of the Community Water Officer Conor Ruane and VERI, we recently provided Water Biodiversity training through LEADER which targeted communities along our main rivers.”

Dolan said that two weeks ago, the graduation for their training teams was held at the Claregalway Hotel.

“Over the coming years, the supervisors and participants on our Rural Social Scheme and TÚS Scheme will be playing a key role on the project along sections of the River Suck with other stakeholders including Roscommon LEADER Partnership.

“And that’s just one part of our environmental efforts which has seen all our programmes involved from the SICAP education element, to the many local biodiversity and water resource projects funded by LEADER.”