MEMBERSHIP
The Association had a total membership of 399 for the year 2008.  The breakdown is as follows:  232 Adults, 95 Juniors, 40 O.A.P, 28 new members and 4 honorary members.  It is vital that all members are easily recognisable on Association waters by the wearing of the Association badges.  This makes the task of our Water Keepers easier and allows Riparian Owners and members to easily distinguish non-members and trespassers.
Again, it will be necessary for all existing members to renew their membership before 31st March, 2009.  Any member who has not renewed membership by that date will be considered to have resigned from the Association and a new applicant will be accepted to fill the vacancy.

A special thanks to our  Membership Secretary Fintan Smith, for the huge amount of time and effort involved in the issuing of membership cards and badges for 2008 and to Phil Murphy, Pat Dunworth, Janet Deegan and Staff (Daybreak) and Grainne Clancy and Staff (Costcutters) for selling day permits.

FISHING RIGHTS
The Association enjoys the fishing rights of Golden Falls Lake, by permission of the E.S.B. and both banks of the River Liffey from Driver’s Ford, Golden Falls, to the upper reaches of Beaumount Estate, Harristown, Kilcullen.  We also have an agreement with the E.S.B. whereby members of the Association can purchase both game and coarse angling permits on Poulaphuca Reservoir for the price of one permit.  Since 2005, members of the Association have also enjoyed fishing rights on the Liffey at Lucan Demense.  A number of members fished this water in 2008 and report some fine trout landed.
May I take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to our Riparian Owners for allowing us access to, and the pleasure of fishing these waters.  Once again, may I emphasise that our gratitude can best be expressed by respecting their property, by using stiles where they are provided, by not damaging stock, crops or fences, by not leaving gates open and when departing the river or lake, by taking home our litter.  May I also take this opportunity to say a sincere thanks to our Water Keepers for taking on the onerous and thankless task of protecting our fishery.

MEETINGS
A total of 11 Committee meetings were held since last year’s A.G.M., usually on the last Wednesday of each month.  Thanks to all the committee members for continuing to put in the effort to attend these meetings. Here, I’ll echo T. Deegan, the previous Hon. Secretary, by making an urgent appeal to our younger members to take an active interest in the Association and become involved at Committee level.  Those who are interested in joining the Committee should give their name to any of the existing Committee members before the A.G.M.  I wish to thank Phil Murphy for facilitating our meetings every month, free of charge, in the comfort of her lounge and for her help and hospitality during the year.

RESTOCKING
Golden Falls Lake was restocked twice during the 2008 season.  On Thursday 8th May, 1,000 brown trout were introduced and on Tuesday 29th July, a further 1,000 brown trout, some up to 2lbs in weight, were added to the lake.  All fish were supplied and delivered free of charge by E.S.B. and on behalf of the Association, I wish to thank them for their generosity. A special thanks to E.S.B.’s  man on the lake, Mr. Peadar Moran, E.S.B. Amenity Officer, Liffey Stations for his help and advice during restocking operations on Golden Galls.  Thanks to Golden Falls Water Ski Club for the use of their facilities and thanks also to all the members who helped with the restocking.
Salmon stocking also took place on two occasions during the 2008 season.  On Friday 28th March, 12,000 unfed salmon fry, Liffey Strain from Islandbridge were introduced to the Donode stream at the Coughlanstown entrance while a further 18,000 were introduced to the little river at Ardenode.  Thanks to Mr. Pat O’Molloy for supplying the fry.  The whole operation was undertaken by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board as a result of the low salmon count of the previous season.

LIFFEY HABITAT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME
The work carried out by the Association in 2007 to improve salmon spawning grounds on our stretches of the Liffey was highly praised by the E.R.F.B. at their River Liffey workshop held at Carton House on 4th September 2008. The committee was also delighted to learn that further improvements are proposed for the Liffey, amongst other waters, by the Eastern River Basin District.  A draft River Basin Management Plan was launched on Monday 22nd December 2008.  This is to be followed by a six month public consultation process until 22nd June 2009 and the final River Basin Management Plan will be unveiled on the 22nd October 2009.  Because of dams at Poulaphuca, Golden Falls, Leixlip and flood defences in Dublin, the Liffey is designated a Heavily Modified Water Body.  Heavily Modified Waters must achieve “good ecological potential” by 2015.  A Programme of Measures recommends that all existing Irish and European legislation with regards to water quality, habitats and areas of conservation etc. are implemented.
The draft Eastern River Basin District Management Plan and Programme of Measures can be viewed on the Eastern River Basin District Website  www.erbd.ie.

ANGLING COMPETITIONS
Angling on our waters in 2008 was one of the best years yet and our competition results were excellent.
Pat Dunworth represented the Association at the National on L. Conn on Saturday 26th April 2008.
Tom Nugent, Trevor Winder, Pat Dunworth and Ed Golding fished the Corcoran Cup on our behalf on L. Owel on 8th June.  Trevor Winder, Pat Dunworth and Eamonn Kelly represented us at the Leinster Qualifier for the 2009 National of L. Ennell on Saturday 27th September 2008. Results were varied and with our weather this year, suntans were not to be had but of course it’s the taking part that counts.
Closer to home, the winner of the Angler of the Year Award 2008, decided on a points system allocated for club angling competitions, was Martin Keogh.  The Junior Angler of the Year Award 2008 goes to Troy Francis.
The heaviest trout landed during a club competition weighed in at 1.68kg (3lbs 11.2 oz) and was caught by Mick Mooney who receives the Heaviest Trout of the Year Award 2008.
Patrick Langan landed the heaviest trout in junior competitions at 531g (1lb 2.7oz) and he receives the Junior Heaviest Trout of the Year Award 2008.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
 
                                               Adult                                                      Junior
Competition                       Date       Winner         R-Up            Winner    R-Up
Jimmy Evans Cup             16/3/08    M. Keogh       S. Goulding     -                 
J. & K, Murray Cup         06/4/08    L. Cox            P. McGlynn    -                  
Punchestown Fest. Trophy20/4/08   S. Goulding      T. Winder    P. Langan    
Tony McKnight Trophy    11/5/08    M. Francis       T. Winder    T. Francis    
Committee Perpetual Cup 23/5/08    G. Bolger         M. Keogh   S. Ellis    E.Lyons 
Mick Murphy  Shield        06/6/08    D. Tyrell           M. Keogh   T. Francis E.Lyons
Sonny Cowley Shield        20/6/08    O. Keogh         S. Goulding T. Francis    
‘Local’ Perpetual Shield    11/7/08    P. McGlynn      L. Stenson   T. Francis    
Ed. Gordon Trophy           08/8/08    J. Winder         M. Keogh    C. Walsh     
Guinness Trophy               31/8/08    M. McCaffrey  T. Nugent     -                 
Anvil Bar Shield                28/9/08    M. Mooney      M. Francis    -                
Pike Competition            07/12/08     F. Byrne         Martin Reynolds                

For many years now, Eamonn Kelly has been purchasing all the prizes that are won and presented at our various angling competitions and on behalf of the Association I wish to thank Eamonn.  We are also very grateful to all the people and business’s who sponsor prizes and to the E.S.B. Turlough Hill who facilitate us with low water on the Liffey for our competitions.

POLLUTION  OF  RIVER  LIFFEY  BY  KILDARE  COUNTY  COUNCIL
Raw Sewage overflow into the Liffey remained a problem but after numerous meetings with Kildare County Council during the 2008 season, hopefully, and with all fingers crossed, such occurrences might yet become a thing of the past.  A report of the last and most important meeting should suffice.
Following the Part 8 approval of the Ballymore Eustace proposed new sewage treatment plant by Kildare County Council on Monday 20th June 2008, this meeting took place at the site of the existing plant at The Strand, Ballymore Eustace on Tuesday 8th July 2008.  Present for Kildare County Council Water Services were Alan Dunney and Clodagh Lyons.  Nicholas O’Dwyer Consultants were represented by Terry O’Flanagan.  The Association was represented by Gary Bolger, Myles Byrne and Tommy Deegan.
The new sewage treatment plant will be located on the Coughlanstown Road at the far end of the KTK Landfill site at its border with M. Campbell and S. Mulryan.  A new pumping station will be constructed at the existing sewage plant site at The Strand.  There will be no changes to the present sewerage system in the village of Ballymore Eustace. A new large manhole will be constructed at the Liffey Bridge entrance to pick up the present sewage and surface water systems and from this point onwards, a new system will be constructed.  The old inlet pipe and manholes will be dug up and replaced by a new pipe.  This will do away with the present situation where raw sewage overflows into the Liffey from the present inlet pipe manhole. 
The new pumping station will be constructed on the present sewage plant site.  However, the area of the present site will be reduced considerably with the unused area being handed over to the community for incorporation into Riverside Walk/Linear Park.  This new pumping station will consist of a large combined underground foul sewage/stormwater tank with one overflow to the Liffey.  Normally, there will be no overflow whatsoever, however, in the event of a severe storm (five-year storm) the plant will overflow to the Liffey.  We were assured the quality of the overflow, should it happen, will be better than the existing discharge as there will be a screening process in place.  The pumping station will be fitted with a duty pump and an assist pump and these will be in operation at all times to pump sewage to the new sewage treatment plant at the Kimmeens.  There will also be a stand-by pump fitted, i.e. three pumps in total.  A stand-by generator will be fitted and in the event of an electricity failure, this will cut in automatically.
The old surface water block drain at the end of Reilly’s Lane will be piped into the river.  The Kildare County Council officials agreed to look at the possibility of constructing a disabled anglers facility at the end of Reilly’s Lane but no commitment was given. 
The outfall from the sewage treatment plant will discharge into the Liffey at Kane’s Ford and while the Association looked to have the discharge points spread across the river to help the current sweep it away, K.C.C. concurred but again no firm commitment was given.  It is hoped to have the new sewage treatment plant in operation in the first quarter of 2010.

POLLUTION OF RIVER LIFFEY BY DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL WATERWORKS DEPARTMENT
On a less positive note we can look at Dublin City Council’s ongoing treatment of the Liffey.  Last year’s A.G.M. address warned us that while “samples show that some aluminium sludge is still making its way into the Liffey from the Waterworks, it in no way compares to the bad old days when the Liffey at Ballymore Eustace was “seriously polluted”.  It does show however that there is still a need for vigilance.” Sage words indeed as in April of last year the Association came across a planning application by Dublin City Council to Kildare County Council to construct a new sludge treatment plant at the Waterworks, Bishopsland, Ballymore Eustace. 
The planning application proposes a suspended solids concentration in the effluent from the aluminium sludge treatment plant of 40mg/1.  Since the suspended solids will be mainly aluminium hydroxide this could equate to an A13+ concentration of 13.6mg/1.  The application also proposes an effluent discharge of 94 litres/second or 8121.6 M3/day, almost twice the volume allowed by the 1985 planning permission.  This would add 110.45 kgs of A13+ per day to the Liffey and raise the A13+ concentration by 0.8mg/1 and exceed the proposed Environmental Quality Standard by 400%.  As this would negate the 34 years of time and effort spent by our Association fighting the aluminium pollution of the Liffey, we made a planning submission to Mr. John Lehart, Director of Services, Planning Department, Kildare County Council highlighting our concerns. To no avail.  Kildare County Council, without referring once to aluminium levels in the discharge to the Liffey, granted planning permission to Dublin City Council for its new plant.  At its May meeting, the Association decided to appeal KCC’s decision to An Bord Pleanala.  The appeal dated 9th June 2008 was acknowledged by An Bord Pleanala dated 13th June 2008.  The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board also appealed the decision of Kildare County Council to An Bord Pleanala dated 9th June 2008 and was acknowledged by An Bord Pleanala dated 20th June 2008.
The sparring session continued with Dublin City Council making a submission dated 8th July regarding our appeal.  A thoroughly detailed and at times unintentionally hilarious document (e.g. Since Dublin City Council opened the works at Ballymore Eustace in the 1940s, it has worked with the local community and representative associations to enhance fishery protection and is seeking to continue that through etc. etc.), it lead however to An Bord Pleanala on 16th July 2008 requesting that we make another submission on Dublin City Council’s submission.  We’re nearly at the unresolved end, I swear.  The Association made its submission dated 30th July 2008, acknowledged by An Bord Pleanala on 5th August. 
The Association received a further letter from An Bord Pleanala dated 14th October 2008 in which Ms. Helen Murphy, Executive Officer tells us that the Board intends to determine our appeal before 25th November 2008 but that the Board is running behind schedule due to the continuing high volume in the intake of appeals which, I suppose should have prepared us for the next letter from them dated 25th November 2008 in which Ms. Murphy informed us that an Inspector’s Report had been received and that the file was now at Board level.  However, due to the continuing high volume in the intake of appeals, the previous target date of the 25th November has been revised.  A new target date of before 5th January 2009 has now been set within which to decide the case.  At least up until the writing of this report, no further correspondence has been received.

POLLUTION OF GOLDEN FALLS LAKE BY WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL
During August 2008, the Committee became aware of a notice in the Wicklow People dated 13th August 2008 in which Wicklow County Council made application to the E.P.A (in accordance with the Waste Water Discharge Regulations 2007) for a Waste Water Discharge Licence to discharge effluent from Blessington W.W.T.P. into Golden Falls Lake.  The Blessington W.W.T.P. for 6000 PE is only a secondary treatment plant and not as Wicklow County Council had led us to believe, a tertiary treatment plant.  Sludge banks, phosphorous concentrations, faecal coliforms counts, its unnecessary here to go back through the history of pollution in Golden Falls Lake but suffice it to say that it could be deemed pretty pointless putting 2,000 trout a year into the equivalent of oxtail soup so the Association quickly sent off a letter to the E.P.A. dated 5th September 2008, acknowledged by them dated 10th September 2008 in which Ms. Marie Harris, Programme Officer stated that “your letter will be treated as a submission and will be taken into account when determining the application, in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Waste Water Discharge Regulations 2007”.
In our submission the Association respectfully requested the Environmental Protection Agency to impose stringent tertiary treatment limits, nutrient removal conditions and monitoring arrangements on Blessington Waste Water Treatment Plant Discharge and to consider possible alternatives to discharging into Golden Falls Lake just upstream of Ballymore Eustace.  Such alternatives might include discharging to Osberstown via Naas or discharging to Ringsend via City West.  Variations of our letter were sent to the following requesting them to support our submission to the E.P.A:

· Kildare County Manager, Aras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas.
· Padraig McManus, Chief Executive, ESB, Lower Fitzwilliam St., Dublin
· Pat Doherty, CEO, Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
· The Secretary, An Taisce-National Trust for Ireland, The Tailors Hall, Dublin 8.
· Mr. John Cregan, Director Regional Health Office, HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster, Clonminch,  Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
· Dr. P. J. Claffey, Programme Manager, Health and Safety Authority, Metropolitan Building,  James Joyce St., Dublin 1.
· Ballymore Eustace Community Development Association

By Hand:  Golden Falls Water Ski Club.
By Email:  Councillor Billy Hillis, Dunstown, Brannockstown, Naas, Co. Kildare.

And the process rumbles on…….

CONCLUSION
Apologies for the apparent doom and gloom and at times fancy technological terms but its worth remembering that at the pike competition of 7th December 2008 Mr. Fran Byrne landed a superbly conditioned fish of 19lbs from Golden Falls Lake, that in July Mr. Joe Kelly took a specimen trout of 10lb 1 oz from the same water and that on one glorious night, the Local Perpetual Shield, Friday 11th July 2008, five trout over a pound weight were weighed in.  Phil’s pool table never looked as well.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all Association members for their courtesy and help during 2008.  I would like to say a special word of thanks to my colleagues on the Committee and state that as ever,  Tommy Deegan remains the brains and heartbeat of the Association, our work this year would not have gone ahead without him.

Good health and tight lines for 2009.

___________________________________
Gary Bolger, Honorary Secretary.
www.kildare.ie/ballymoreanglers

BALLYMORE EUSTACE TROUT AND SALMON ANGLERS’ ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

TO BE HELD IN PHIL MURPHY'S LOUNGE BALLYMORE EUSTACE  

ON WEDNESDAY 6TH FEBRUARY 2008 AT  8.00 P.M.

COMMITTEE  FOR  2007  (0utgoing)

PRESIDENT                Mr. J. McGrath.    VICE PRESIDENT     Mr. D. Tyrrell.
HON. TREASURER.    Mr. M. McGrath. HON. SECRETARY   Mr. T. Deegan.
Messrs. G. Bolger, M. Byrne, D. Cowley, J. Deegan, P. Dunworth, S. Goulding, S. Gunshenan, E. Kelly, T. Nugent, F. Smith,

AGENDA.

1.     PRESIDENT'S  ADDRESS
2.     MINUTES  OF  A.G.M.  HELD ON  WEDNESDAY 7TH  FEBRUARY, 2007
3.     MATTERS  ARISING  FROM  MINUTES
4.     HONORARY  TREASURER'S  REPORT  FOR  2007
5.     HONORARY  SECRETARY'S  REPORT  FOR  2007
6.     NOTICE  OF  MOTIONS
7.     ELECTION  OF  HONORARY  OFFICERS  AND  COMMITTEE.
8.     OTHER  BUSINESS.

Members are reminded that nominations for the committee and notice of motions must be with the Honorary Secretary by Sunday 3rd February 2008.

N.B. 2008 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM ENCLOSED WITH REPORT

HONORARY SECRETARY'S REPORT FOR 2007

MR. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW MEMBERS,
The year 2007 was another very successful and extremely active year for our Association.  Angling on our water of the Liffey and Golden Falls Lake was excellent during 2007.  It was an historic year in that it saw what anglers had been advocating for years, a ban on drift net fishing at sea for salmon.  Over 700 salmon passed through the fish pass at Leixlip in 2007 compared to 320 in 2006.  Also in an effort to conserve salmon stocks, angling for salmon was prohibited on the River Liffey and the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (ERFB) also introduced a byelaw whereby downstream of Golden Falls Dam anglers could only fish using single barbless hooks no matter what type of angling they were engaged in.
On the 7th December 2007 the Association launched its History Book to a great turn out in the Resource Centre in Ballymore Eustace and I’m delighted to report that the first printing has been completely sold out.  Some copies of the second print are still available and will be sold on a first come first served basis.  

MEMBERSHIP
The Association had a total membership of 435 for the year 2007.  The break-down is as follows: 272 adults, 118 juniors, 40 O.A.P. and 5 honorary members.  It is vital that all members are easily recognizable on Association waters by the wearing of Association badges.  This makes the task of our Water Keepers easier and allows Riparian Owners and members to easily distinguish non-members and trespassers. 
Again, it will be necessary for all existing members to renew their membership before 31st March 2007.  Any member who has not renewed membership by that date will be considered to have resigned from the Association and a new applicant will be accepted to fill the vacancy.  
A special thanks to our Membership Secretary Fintan Smith, for the huge amount of time and effort involved in the issuing of membership cards and badges for 2007 and to Phil Murphy, Janet Deegan & Staff (Daybreak) and Grania Glancy & Staff Costcutters for selling day permits.

FISHING  RIGHTS
The Association enjoys the Fishing Rights of Golden Falls Lake, by permission of the E.S.B. and both banks of the River Liffey from Driver’s Ford, Golden Falls, to the upper reaches of Beaumont Estate, Harristown, Kilcullen.  We also have an agreement with E.S.B., where-by members of the Association can purchase both game and coarse angling permits on Poulaphouca Reservoir for the price of one permit.
Since 2005 members of the Association have also enjoyed fishing rights on the Liffey at Lucan Demense.  A number of members fished this water in 2007 and reported some fine trout landed.
May I take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to our riparian owners for allowing us access to, and the pleasure of fishing these waters.  Once again, may I emphasize that our gratitude can best be expressed by respecting their property, by using stiles where they are provided, by not damaging stock, crops, or fences, by not leaving gates open and when departing the river or lake, by taking home our litter.
May I also take this opportunity to say a sincere thanks to our Water-Keepers for taking on the onerous and thankless task of protecting our fishery.

MEETINGS   
A total of 12 committee meetings were held since last year’s A.G.M., usually on the last Wednesday of each month.  Thanks to all the Committee Members for continuing to put in the effort to attend these meetings. Again I wish to make an urgent appeal to our younger members to take an active interest in the Association and become involved at Committee level.  Those who are interested in joining the Committee should give their name to any of the existing committee members before the AGM.  
I wish to thank Phil Murphy for facilitating our meetings each month, free of charge, in the comfort of her lounge and for her help and hospitality during the year.

RESTOCKING
Golden Falls Lake was scheduled for restocking on Tuesday 17th April 2007 but due to some misunderstanding the trout that arrived were considered too small for restocking purposes as they were not of take able size and so were returned to the hatchery. The Lake was restocked with 1000 brown trout up to 1.5 lbs on 1st May 2007 and again on the 16th August with 1000 rainbow trout up to 2lb.  The ESB boat was not available for the August restocking as it was not certified by the Health and Safety Authority for such work, but members boats were used instead to distribute the trout around the Lake.  Thanks to Pat Dunworth, Willie Ryan and Declan Cowley for organizing and transporting the boats to and from the Lake.  All the trout, which were in beautiful condition, were supplied and delivered free of charge by E.S.B. and on behalf of the Association I wish to thank them for their generosity.  A special thanks to Peadar Moran, ESB Amenity Officer, Liffey Stations and Patsy O’Brien for their advice and help during restocking operations on Golden Falls.  Thanks to Golden Falls Water Ski Club for the use of their facilities and thanks also to all the members who helped with the restocking.
Up to 40,000 Liffey strain unfed salmon fry were stocked by Pat O’Molloy in the Liffey at Ballymore Eustace Bridge, Lemonstown Stream and Brook of Donode on 22nd April 2006.  During 2007 the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board carried out a small electro-fishing survey of the Brook of Donode and reported juvenile salmon in the stream.

LIFFEY HABITAT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME
With the introduction of the ban on drift net fishing at sea for salmon and the prohibiting of angling for salmon on the River Liffey until such time as salmon stocks reach their conservation limit (4,000), the Association considered the time was opportune to undertake a major habitat enhancement programme on the Liffey at Ballymore Eustace. The programme of work was drawn up and supervised by The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (Martin Kelly and Fergal Caffrey with advice from Dr. Martin O’Grady Central Fisheries Board) and took place during the month of September 2007.  The enhancement programme consisted of raking the existing gravel bed of the Liffey to rid it of settled out solids and loosen the gravel in order to make it more conducive to salmon spawning (redd/nest making).  Because the Liffey is harnessed by the ESB at Poulaphouca and Golden Falls upstream of Ballymore Eustace, gravels that are normally washed downstream from the upper reaches do not make it to Ballymore and so it was necessary to import trailer loads of gravel into the Liffey to replace what was washed away over the years.  Boulders were introduced into the River to act as holding or resting stations for both salmon and trout and holding pools (deep pools) were also introduced.  The boulders will submerge further as flood waters scour the gravel bed around them.  Many dead and fallen trees were removed from the River. 
The Association was thankful to the following for allowing the machinery access to the River through their property:- Elizabeth and Peter Pearse (Driver’s Ford), James and Matt Purcell (The Strand and Inch), Pat Lawlor (Inch), Ballymore Eustace Handball Club (Car Park), Ballymore Eustace Community Development Association (CDA) (Riverside Walk), Larry Glancy (The Strand), Kildare County Council Water Services (Sewage Plant Yard), Paddy Nolan (Doran’s Park), Gary and Roisin Murphy Mountcashel (Kane’s Ford, Inch na Cailin and Marl Hole Car Ford), Kevin Keenan (Kane’s Ford), Johnny Murphy Coughlanstown (Ferny Inch) and Tim Ronaldson (Railway Bridge).  We were also thankful to the ESB for facilitating us with low water in the Liffey during working hours despite the fact that Poulaphouca Reservoir was chock-a-block with water after our wet summer.
The habitat enhancement work cost €14000 and was funded by Dublin City Council Engineering Department and Kildare County Council Heritage Department to whom we are very grateful.  (The Liffey Valley Meander Belt is designated a Natural Heritage Area, i.e. the Skaw Banks)
It was great to see at the end of November and early December salmon spawning in some of the areas were this work was carried out. 
The Association also appreciates similar enhancement work undertaken by Sean Mulryan under the supervision of Peter Lynch with advice from the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board where his land borders the Liffey at the Ferny Inch and Ardenode/Coughlanstown.

ANGLING  COMPETITIONS
Angling on our waters was perhaps the best ever and our competition results were excellent. 
The Association hosted the Leinster River Championship on our water of the Liffey on Sunday 1st April 2007.  The competion was won by Nicky Moore of North Kildare TSAA.  Liam Stenson of our own Association finished as first substitute to fish the National River Championship.  Liam did get a call up and fished the National River Championship on the River Agivey at Garvagh, Co. Derry but without success in making the National Team.
The 2007 International River Fly Fishing Championship took place on the River Liffey at Newbridge on Friday 6th July 2007.  The Championship brought together teams from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales and was won by the Scottish team with Ireland second, England 3rd and Wales in 4th place. The highest placed individual was Scotland captain Grant Gibson and Wales’ Allen Hughes landed the largest trout at 42cm (16.5 inches).  Our own Association member Gay Doody was on the Irish Team along with Brian Russell Captain, Colm Lynch, Stuart McMurran and Seamus O’Neill.
The Association was represented in the Corcoran Cup Leinster Provincial Championship fished on Lough Ennel on the 13th May 2007 by Tom Nugent, Pat Dunworth and Trevor Winder. 
Pat Dunworth and Sean Gunshenan represented the Association in the 2007 National Championship on Lough Owel on Saturday 9th June 2007 but apart from getting a suntan in the blistering heat, they were not lucky enough to gain a place on the Ireland International Team.
The Association was represented at the Leinster Qualifier for the 2008 National fished on Lough Owel on Saturday 22nd September 2007 by P. Dunworth, T. Nugent, Trevor Winder and Ed. Golding.  Pat Dunworth qualified for the 2008 National by landing a trout of 3lb 6 ozs. 
The winner of our Angler of the Year Award 2007, decided on a points system allocated for club angling competitions, was Tom Nugent.  It was nice in the year we published our history, to see a founder member of the Association and life long Committee member winning the 2007 Angler of the Year Award.
The heaviest trout landed during a club competition weighed-in at 892 grams (1lb 15.5ozs) and was landed by Tommy Winters who receives the Heaviest Trout Of the Year Award 2007.
The Junior Angler of the Year Award 2007 goes to Simon Ellis.  Desmond Mulvihill landed the heaviest trout in junior competitions at 452 grams (15.9ozs) and he receives the Junior Heaviest Trout of the Year Award 2007.

Summary of Results
                                            Adult                                            Junior
Competition              Date       Winner           Runner-up          Winner    R-up
Jimmy Evans Cup       25/3/07   Tom Nugent    Joe Winder        ---              

                                                                        Peter Doherty (tie) 
J. & K. Murray Cup  15/4/07  Tom Nugent      Tony Grehan        ---                
M. Murphy Trophy    22/4/07  Joe Winder        Martin Keogh     Barry Winder 
T. McKnight Shield    07/5/07  Tom Nugent      Des Tyrrell           ---                
Committee Cup          25/5/07  Mick. Mooney  Denis Goulding     ---                
Mick Murphy Shield   08/6/07  Martin Keogh   Joe Winder           Simon Ellis     
Sonny Cowley Shield. 22/6/07  Martin Keogh   Liam Cox             Simon Ellis      
'Local' Trophy.           13/7/07  Trevor Winder  Barry Brosnan       ---                
Ed. Gordon. Trophy.  10/8/07  Trevor Winder  Mick Mooney       ---                     
Guinness (All methods)26/8/07 Tommy Winters Willie Ryan          Des. Mulvihill
Anvil Bar Shield.        30/9/07   Jack Fogarty    Martin Keogh       ---               
Pike Competition       02/12/07 Mick Francis    Alan Maher          ---                      
For many years now Eamonn Kelly has been purchasing all the prizes that are won and presented at our various angling competitions and on behalf of the Association I wish to thank Eamonn.  We are also very grateful to all the people and business’s who sponsor prizes and to the ESB Turlough Hill who facilitate us with low water on the Liffey for our competitions. 

OUTSTANDING PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Kildare County Council’s decision to refuse Blackbourne Partnership permission for 73 houses at Bishopshill (07/1790) was appealed to An Bord Pleanala on the 12th October 2007. 
Kildare County Council’s decision to refuse Armston Properties permission for 73 houses at Dorans Park (06/1454) was appealed to An Bord Pleanala on the 2nd November 2007.
Kildare County Council sought further information on the 10th September 2007 from Patrick Dowling concerning a planning application for 17 houses at Bishopslane (07/1692) 
Up to the end of 2007 the proposed new sewage treatment plant at Tulfarris Golf & Country Hotel and the outfall to Poulaphouca Dam Gorge has not been constructed.
The Council sought further information from CLM Properties Ltd concerning the proposed WWTP at Barrack Street (06/2958) on 23rd February 2007 but the Developer did not respond and so the file was closed.  On the 7th November 2007 the Planning Department KCC informed us that our correspondence was placed on a Possible Unauthorised Development file. 

POLLUTION OF GOLDEN FALLS LAKE BY WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL
During 2006 Wicklow County Council commenced construction of a new tertiary sewage treatment plant at Blessington which discharges effluent into Golden Falls Lake.  At a meeting of the Eastern River Basin District Advisory Council in the Glenview Hotel, Glen of the Downs, Co Wicklow on the 3rd April 2007 I was informed by Officials from Wicklow County Council that the contractors are still on site and that Blessington’s new tertiary treatment sewage plant would be operational in August 2007.
Towards the end of August 2007 the Association requested the analytical results from water samples of Golden Falls taken by Wicklow County Council.  We wished to see if there was an obvious difference between the results before and after the new sewage plant became operational.  We were informed that the sewage plant was fully operational since the end of March 2007 and we received all their monthly analytical results for the year 2007 up to 27th July 2007.  Samples taken in April and May from the various sampling points on the Lake showed that the water in Golden Falls was Strongly Eutrophic which would indicate a strong pollution level and one sample in May even reached the Highly Eutrophic level of Chlorophyll in the water which would indicate high pollution.  The results for the other months based on the Chlorophyll concentration showed that the pollution level was very low or low.  The results for some other parameters were disappointing but since the new plant has only recently been put into operation it is perhaps too early to come to any conclusion.   
Under the heading “Improved water on the way for West Wicklow” which appeared in the Wicklow Local Times dated Wednesday 2nd May 2007 the following article appeared
“Wicklow County Council has been given approval by the Department of the Environment to seek tenders for Stage 1 of the West Wicklow Water Supply Scheme.
The Scheme will cost €6.6 million and has been approved for funding under the Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2005 – 2007.
Stage 1 of the West Wicklow Scheme will upgrade and improve the water supply infrastructure serving the urban area of Blessington, with the water supply being sourced from Dublin City Council’s water treatment plant at Ballymore Eustace.  The approved works also comprise a new reservoir at Glending Wood, a pumping station and some 8 kilometres of water distribution mains.”
It now appears that with a discharge point for Blessington sewage in Golden Falls Lake and a reliable domestic water supply, the infrastructure is in place for a major expansion of Blessington.  The quality and safety of the water flowing in the Liffey at Golden Falls and through the village of Ballymore Eustace in now in the hands of Wicklow County Council.

POLLUTION OF RIVER LIFFEY BY KILDARE COUNTY COUNCIL
Early in January 2007 the Association was aware that it was doubtful if the proposed new sewage treatment plant for Ballymore Eustace would proceed at Sousheen.  This was as a result of a submission dated 29th March 2006 from the Principal EHO, Health Service Executive, to the Planning Department, Kildare County Council outlining the unsuitability of the proposed site and its proximity to an existing dwelling house as well as other very important considerations.  This submission really put the cat amongst the pigeons are far as Kildare County Council was concerned and forced them back to the drawing board.
The Association wrote to Mr. Michael O’Leary Director of Services, Water Services, Kildare County Council by letter dated 9th April 2007 complaining that the Liffey at Ballymore Eustace had been polluted by raw sewage during the Leinster River Championship on 1st April 2007 and pointing out that one of the competitors had complained that he had to leave the River prior to the end of the competition due to a stomach bug which he attributed to the presence of raw sewage in the water where he was drawn to fish.  Once again the Association demanded that Kildare County Council act immediately to rectify this pollution and health hazard at Ballymore Eustace before someone else was infected with a serious illness.
The Association received the following reply dated 25th May 2007 from Kildare County Council, Water Services.
“Dear Mr Deegan,
I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 9th April 2007 and inform you that Kildare County Council is progressing the provision of a new Waste Water Treatment Plant for Ballymore Eustace.  A Revised Design Review Report for the Ballymore Sewerage Scheme is in preparation to allow identification of a new site for the proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant.  It is anticipated that the Wastewater Treatment Plant will be delivered in 2009.
Yours sincerely, M. Eastley pp L. Dunne Senior Executive Officer”
The Association replied by letter dated 31st May 2007 expressing disappointment that we would have to wait until 2009 for a new sewage plant and requesting Kildare County Council in the meantime to carry out some improvements to the old plant to prevent raw sewage entering the Liffey and to ensure that anglers do not become ill due to fishing in polluted water.
The Association received the following letter dated 24th July 2007 from Mr. Dunne, Senior Executive Officer Water Services Section; “Re Treatment plant at Ballymore Eustace.
Dear Mr. Deegan,
I refer to your letter dated 31st May 2007 regarding the above.
A new treatment plant is scheduled to be provided at Ballymore Eustace in the next two to three years.  In the meantime, Kildare County Council are operating the existing plant as efficiently as possible.
Your comments in relation to the visual appearance of the existing wastewater treatment plant have been taken into consideration and it is intended to have some general maintenance work carried out in the coming weeks to minimise any negative visual impacts that this site may have on the adjacent River Liffey and riverside walk.” 
True to their word the Council did carry out a partial clean up of the site.
Kildare County Council published in the Leinster Leader of the 6th December 2007 a new advertisement under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2000 for a proposed new sewage treatment plant to be built at the Kimmeens.
From Saturday 29th December 2007 to Wednesday 2nd January 2008 raw sewage overflowed from the sewage plant across the Riverside Walk and into the Liffey.  People and their pets using the Walk had to pass through this overflow and the crows were very much aware of the overflow.  The Association reported this overflow twice on the 31st December 2007 and on the 1st January 2008.  The Plant was also overflowing on Monday 7th January 2008 and this too was reported to Water Services Kildare County Council.  It is a disgrace that we still have to put up with these conditions in a so-called modern country and this despite requesting Kildare County Council for more than thirty years to upgrade the Sewage Treatment Plant at Ballymore Eustace.
 
POLLUTION OF RIVER LIFFEY BY DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL WATERWORKS DEPARTMENT
Following a visit to the Waterworks on the 13th July 2006 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued recommendations on the 24th July 2006.  The Association was informed by letter dated 14th March 2007 from the EPA that the Agency “considers that the Council has complied with the recommendations of the site inspection report of 13th July 2006.  With regard to the information provided I wish to highlight the following:
• As a result of actions taken by the Council to date the quality of the discharge has improved from an average of 3.78 mg/l in 2005 to 1.92 mg/l for the period January to August 2006.
• The Council are planning an upgrade of the wastewater treatment system which should be complete by 2009 and which should result in a further improvement in the quality of the discharge from the Ballymore Eustace water treatment plant.”
Enclosed with the Agency’s letter were a Waste Assimilative Capacity Assessment Report and an Aquatic Toxicity Report which were prepared for Dublin City Council by RPS Consulting Engineers along with comments on the other recommendations.  The Association replied by letter dated 22nd March 2007 giving our comments on the various reports.  The comments are covered in full in the Associations History Book.
We concluded by saying that “It is pleasing to see improvements in the quality of discharges to the Liffey at Ballymore Eustace and the management and staff at the Waterworks deserve full credit for this improvement.  It will require constant vigilance and attention to detail in the operation of the sludge treatment facilities to ensure that this improvement is maintained and hopefully the planned upgrade of the wastewater treatment system will further improve the quality of the discharge from the Water Treatment Plant.”
The Association received a letter dated 13th March 2007 from the Environment Section, Kildare County Council stating
“Re: Old Sludge holding lagoons at Ballymore Eustace
Dear Mr. Deegan,
I refer to your letters dated 5th February 07 and 22nd February 06 re the above.
Kildare County Council have identified the site referred to in your letter in a list of sites in accordance with Section 22 of the Waste Management Act 1996-2003.
The Council have carried out sampling of the River Liffey at BME Bridge on the 24th April 06 and the 17th July 06 for the 14 no. substances listed in the Water Quality (Dangerous Substances) Regs, 2001 (S.I. No. 12 of 2001).  In addition Barium, Salenium and Manganese, which are naturally occurring in rocks and geological formations, were analysed for on the 24th April 06 and their concentrations were quite low.  Barium and Salenium are list 11 substances under the Dangerous Substances directive, 76/464/EEC.
Please see attached table showing results of analyses.
While there is no specific requirements to monitor for Aluminium, we propose to analyse for same during March 2007 at BME Bridge and advise you of the results.
Please note that a new monitoring programme has recently been finalised by the EPA to comply with the Water Framework Directive.  In this regard, the council will be monitoring at BME Bridge, as it is an operational monitoring site and the agency, it appears, will in future be the authority responsible for the monitoring of dangerous Substances at the surveillance monitoring locations.
Yours sincerely, A. Greene pp K Kavanagh, Senior Executive Officer.”
Mr. Tom Leahy Deputy Dublin City Engineer in an interview on RTE radio 1 on Wednesday 11th October 2006 said Dublin City Council are now considering two options for Dublin’s future water supply.  Option 1 was to go to Lough Ree on the River Shannon and abstract 380 million litress per day (85mgd) and option 2 was to construct a desalination plant in Dublin.  Option 1 was the preferred option at the moment.  When questioned at an Eastern River Basin District Advisory Council (ERBDAC) meeting about future water abstraction at Poulaphouca Reservoir he said that the proposed major works at the Waterworks which he expected to commence around February 2007 and last for four years would involve the replacement of nearly all the existing plant.  This will enable Dublin City Council to abstract 318 million litres of water per day (70 million gallons) from Poulaphouca Reservoir and this will be the final water abstraction volume from the Reservoir.  After that it is one of the two options above but it could be eighteen months before the final decision is taken.  In early 2007 Ascon Ltd moved on site to carry out the major construction works which will facilitate the abstraction of 318 million litres (70 million gallons) of water per day from Poulaphouca Reservoir.  This means that Dublin City Council will send almost two and a half times more water to Dublin by pipeline than normally (no flood) flows under the Ballymore Eustace Liffey Bridge.   
When granting planning permission for this major upgrading and expansion of the Water Treatment Plant, An Bord Pleanala’s imposed a planning condition No. 2 that “Monitoring arrangements relating to the quantum of water abstracted from the Liffey, which shall also include monitoring of water levels downstream of the water treatment plant, shall be agreed between the planning authority and applicant prior to commencement of development and such monitoring shall be undertaken on a regular basis.
Reason:  In the interest of the proper planning and development of the area.”  The Association requested a copy of the monitoring agreement between the two Councils by letter to the Kildare Senior Executive Officer, Planning Section, dated 20th June 2007.  The Compliance Section, Kildare County Council replied on the 20th July 2007 saying “The monitoring arrangements are not known to us at the moment but we will forward you a copy when we receive same.”  Enclosed with this letter was a letter addressed to Dublin City Council Engineering Department also dated 20th July 2007 asking them to “Please submit details of your monitoring arrangements regarding the water abstraction as stated in Condition No. 2 by An Bord Pleanala. The conditions are enclosed.”
We again requested the monitoring arrangements by letter dated 13th November 2007 and received a reply dated 29th November 2007 from Kildare County Council in which they stated “The Planning Authority wishes to inform you that the monitoring arrangements are not know to us at the moment.  I am forwarding a copy of your letter to the Senior Engineer in the Water Service Department and we will be in contact in due course.”  It would appear that planning conditions, like taxes, are only for ‘little people’. 
As promised in their letter of the 13th March 2007 Kildare County Council did carry out aluminium analyses on samples of the River Liffey taken at Ballymore Eustace Bridge and the results were forwarded to the Association on the 17th July 2007.
The results of the analyses are outlined below.
Date Test Parameter Result Units
13/03/2007 Aluminium 217 Ug/l
13/03/2007 Aluminium (dissolved) 100 Ug/l
31/05/2007 Aluminium 185 Ug/l
31/05/2007 Aluminium (dissolved) 109 Ug/l
The total aluminium concentration measured on the 13/03/2007 exceeds the Environmental Quality Standard of 0.2 mg/l Al3+ mentioned above.  While these samples show that some aluminium sludge is still making its way into the Liffey from the Waterworks, it in no way compares to the bad old days when the Liffey at Ballymore Eustace was “seriously polluted” but it does show that there is still a need for vigilance.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I would like to thank all Association members for their courtesy and help during 2007.  I would like to say a special word of thanks to my colleagues on the Committee. It is, and has always been, a pleasure to serve with them. 

Good health and tight lines for 2008.
_________________________
Thomas Deegan,
Honorary Secretary