THE GALWAY & CORRIB ANGLER’S ASSOCIATION, THE EARLY YEARS
by Tom Kenny
On February 6th, 1898, Colonel O’Hara from Lenaboy Castle and Henry Hodgson from Currerevagh, Oughterard came together to found The Corrib Fisheries Association for the further improvement of trout fishing on the Corrib. They teamed up with the Board of Conservators of the Galway District to promote proper angling on the Corrib. In 1907, they managed to convince the Department of Agriculture to build a trout hatchery on the Owenriff River in Oughterard. It worked very well for a number of years but eventually fell into decline and closed down in 1924.
As a result, the sport of trout angling on the lake was deteriorating and so a number of concerned anglers met in Bailey’s Hotel and set up The Galway and Corrib Angler’s Association with Mr. L. O’Dea as chairman. Their stated aim was to improve angling on the Corrib and to investigate and report to the Government Commission on inland fisheries in the country. As members of the association, they were allowed to participate in the National Fly Fishing Competition to be held on the lake in April of that year.
M.J. Lydon was elected secretary, Nicholas Geraghty became treasurer and the committee members were Lieutenant Graham, Renmore, Dr. D.V. Morris, G.M. Counahan, Ed. Bailey, E. Lydon, Michael Power, William Cloherty, J.M. Pringle, T. Sweeney, F. Ryan, T. Courtney, J. Moloney and H. Bailey.
They set about trying to re-establish the trout hatchery at Oughterard and they organised fishing competitions, some of which were specifically for pike which was an attempt to control trout predation in the lake.
Thus began a long programme of outstanding work done by the Association over the years in preserving the quality of angling; in lobbying Government on various issues; in organising national championships; in protecting the ecology; in the distribution of fry; in monitoring pollution; in running fly-tying courses; in dealing with the rod licence; in highlighting bad lakeside developments and in building an angler’s hut on Flynn Island. They also worked valiantly and voluntarily to maintain the hatching facility at Oughterard but it was beyond the means of one angling club and so, in 1959, they were happy to hand over the running of it to the Connacht Federation.
In 1971, all the fingerling trout raised at the hatchery were lost due to drainage work. Pollution was increasingly becoming a problem, that same year all the fish in the Claregalway River were wiped out from a disastrous spillage from the Erin Foods factory in Tuam. The dreaded algae bloom was now being reported as a serious threat and later, fish farming for the same reason.
On the positive side, the Association teamed up with Bráithreacht na Coiribe, the other city based angling club, to run a fly-tying course in the Vocational school. In 1988, the club began their protest against the rod licence. They set up a special task force to fight it and organised a public march in the city. Eventually, the dispute was resolved.
Our first photograph shows some of the anglers in the 1952 pike competition including Archie Mahony with the pike on the left. Bernie O’Grady with the rod, Eamonn Walsh and Tommy Mannion with the large pike between them and on the right, Jack Doherty with his cap in his hand.
Our second image shows a group taken at Greenfields in 1971. In front are, from the left; P.J. Dowling, Galway; Murt Folan, Galway; Percy Stanley, Clifden; Eileen Brett, Tuam; J.J. Duffy, Kilmaine; Peter O’Malley, Ballinrobe; Tom Browne, Galway; Christy Deacy, Galway. Among those at the back are Pat Day, Mike Egan, Sonny O’Donnell, Jim Ryan, Tom Cameron, Bertie O’Toole, Tom Varley, Liam Greaney and Paddy Brett.
These photographs and all the information today is taken from a history entitled “Galway & Corrib Anglers’ Association, 75 Years” which was written and published by the late Peadar O’Dowd in 2009.
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Just arrived is a copy of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society journal, Volume 76 edited by Dr. Jackie Uí Chionnaith. It is, as expected, a mixture of fascinating articles on a variety of subjects and is well illustrated. Of particular interest is Roy Foster’s piece on “The memoir of Dermot O’Connor Donelan” and also Séamua Devitt’s article on “The story of ‘The Irish Madonna’. This recalls how Walter Lynch, the Bishop of Clonfert along with many others fled to Inishbofin as the Cromwellians were about to take over Galway. When the island surrendered to the British, all of the clergy were allowed to leave and sail to Flanders. Lynch ended up in Gyor in Hungary with his most prized possession, a portrait of The Blessed Virgin. When he died, this portrait was hung in the local cathedral, and 37 years later, on St. Patrick’s Day 1697, it was seen to weep tears of blood for some three hours. ‘The Madonna of Galway’ painting was venerated thereafter. The article gives us the statements of those who witnessed the event. The journal also includes a wonderful tribute by Bernard O’Hara to Peadar O’Dowd who was an active member of the Society for many years.
Membership of this society is only 20 euro per annum and includes a copy of the journal and postage. Overseas membership is only 30 euro which also included a copy of the journal and postage. The society also host a series of lectures every year which are free to members. This represents remarkably good value to anyone who wishes to join this organisation who have made such an important contribution to our understanding and appreciation of our heritage.