#ANGLING - The Irish Times' angling columnist Derek Evans revisits the Darndale fishing ponds in north Dublin which have been given a new lease of life thanks to a community-led project to rid the angling spot of an invasive weed.
As reported last November on Afloat.ie, the public fishing ponds were "crying out for help" after an infestation of the invasive curly weed (Lagarosiphon major) which spread throughout the entire expanse of water, making casting virtually impossible.
But thanks to €3,000 in funding from the Heritage Council, the weed was smothered and killed off by jute matting (sackcloth) laid across the two ponds at the facility, restarting them to their former glory.
A 15-strong group including locals, anglers and members of Dublin City Council and Inland Fisheries Ireland spent three days in foul weather pulling out the weed and laying the jute.
The ponds, constructed in 1999 under the Urban Regeneration Programme, are home to good numbers of carp and rude, several of which "splashed and rose to fly-life and appeared to be enjoying their new surroundings" during Evans' visit.
It's hoped that the project will prove to be a success and lead to further works at public angling amenities elsewhere in Dublin, such as Bushy Park.
