Fishing for beginners at Whitechurch Youth Group a big success
Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Dublin Angling Initiative introduces the youth group to fly fishing at local angling spot
Whitechurch Youth Group from Rathfarnham, Dublin has once again taken up fishing as part of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Dublin Angling Initiative. The youth group recently embarked on lessons in the basics of fly fishing, one of the most popular forms of angling. Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Dublin Angling Initiative aims to promote, develop and improve angling in the greater Dublin area.
Youth group members from Whitechuch attended lessons with Inland Fisheries Ireland’s staff where they learnt about fly fishing equipment, fly tying and fly casting. Students picked up the basics very quickly and after a couple of lessons on dry land in Whitechurch, they were ready to go to the river bank for a practical fishing session. The youth group quickly put their skills into practice at a popular angling spot in Milltown, Dublin where Matthew McDonald caught a wild brown trout assisted by his friend Nicky O’Hagan on their first fishing trip with the Dublin Angling Initiative.
Whitechurch Youth Group previously ran a fly tying programme for fly fishing during the Winter months for several years. After a two year break from fly tying, they have decided to re-introduce it to the youth group’s programme over the next few months. The fishing lesson and trip with the Dublin Angling Initiative was aimed at highlighting fly fishing to the youth group members and encouraging participation in learning more about fly tying during the Winter season.
Inland Fisheries Ireland’s initiative offers young people from national and secondary schools, summer projects and youth services the opportunity to attend fishing courses throughout the summer. To date, thousands of young people have been introduced to sea, coarse and game angling and the initiative has been a catalyst in setting up fishing clubs for many of these young people. The Dublin Angling Initiative also educates young people on the importance of conservation and protection of Ireland’s fisheries resource to ensure its sustainability from a recreational and economic perspective.
Oisin Cahill, Co-Ordinator of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Dublin Angling Initiative said: “We have partnered with Whitechurch Youth Group for many years in showing young people what fishing is all about. Fly Fishing is a particularly enjoyable type of fishing and it was great to see how quickly the youth group members picked up the art of fly tying and casting.
Fishing is a hobby which can be enjoyed at any age. It is fantastic to see so many young people take up angling through the Dublin Angling Initiative. We would encourage anyone interested to try it out and discover a pastime which will have a positive impact on your health and wellbeing as well as being good fun.”
Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Dublin Angling Initiative welcomes enquiries from all groups or individuals interested in its programmes and services. For further information, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie or contact Oisin Cahill, Dublin Angling Initiative Co-Coordinator by emailing [email protected] .
