Organiser of Limerick event hopes to get youngsters interested in fishing

A SPECIAL event aimed at getting children interested in fishing takes place this weekend.

From 11 o'clock this Saturday morning at a spot on Canal Bank just behind St Mary's Rugby Club, 300 trout will be released into the water to provide an introduction to angling for youngsters.

Organised by keen fisherman Seanie Quinlivan, he hopes that it will inspire a new generation onto the Shannon.

"We don't see any kids fishing on the bank today. It's always been my goal to get more children involved in fishing. I'm fond of fishing myself, and I'd love to see kids fishing on the bank," he said.

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In the run up to Saturday's event, Seanie and a number of his friends have cleaned up the area at Canal Bank so it is ready for adults and children to enjoy the day.

He hopes it leads to that stretch of the Park Canal opened to regular fishermen.

"There are so many restrictions on the Shannon that people just don't go fishing any more. Here we have an amenity right in the heart of the city. If only the powers that be got together and made it happen, it'd be great. If you'd seen the bank before we cleaned it, you'd say there is no way you can bring trout on here. For two days, we've done a tremendous amount of work and everyone will see it on Saturday," he explained.

Seanie hopes around 200 people will attend.

"I grew up in an era when everybody fished and it was very very important because it kept us on the straight and narrow. We had something to look forward to. Today, I fear for the kids who don't have something like this. We are lucky in a sense we have rugby and soccer in our parish. But we also need fishing. A lot of the kids don't want to play soccer, they don't want to play rugby. They want to go fishing. This is the reason we are having this on Saturday," he said.

Seanie, who has been fishing since he was seven, believes the activity has declined due to the rules and regulations which have been introduced for anglers.

"We cannot use a hook. We cannot keep no more than two brown trout, we cannot keep any salmon. Al these regulations have deterred people from fishing," he claimed.

Saturday's event is being supported by Shannonside Bait and Tackle, the Limerick and District Anglers Association, Island Community Partners and the Paul Partnership.

Asked the attraction of fishing, Seanie says: "When I started the attraction is when you got that bite from the fish. When you felt him on the line and hooked. You had the fish hooked - and you were hooked as well!"

All are welcome to Saturday's event.

More information is available by calling Seanie at 086-3027250. Alternatively, just show up on the day.