In a report on the Marine Leisure Conference, which took place in New Ross in September, the event was received with a great response. The conference was part of the fifth annual Ireland Newfoundland Festival with over 60 participants and representations.

The conference included a wide selection of attendees to include tourist interests, Failte Ireland, Waterford Museum, Hook Tourism, Viking Longboat project, Hook Lighthouse,
JFK Trust; Duncannon Community Development and Duncannon Fort.

Marine representatives included the national Coastal & Marine Resource Centre, Kilmore Quay Harbour, Viking Long Boat project, Kilkenny River Cots project, the Rising Tide and Irish-Sea.Org INTERREG projects, South East Charters Sea Angling, Mermaid Angling, Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay fishermen, Newfoundland fishermen.

In addition Wexford County Council, New Ross Town Council, Kilkenny Leader Partnership, County Wexford VEC participated.

Keela Deegan and Jim Foley of Mermaid Angling take a excursion trip to Ballyhack

The morning commenced with introductions by Sean Reidy, JFK Trust followed by a formal welcome by the Chairman of New Ross Town Council, John Dwyer. Sean Connick, Minister of State, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry spoke of the opportunities for the region and specifically Waterford Estuary and the Barrow / Nore Rivers.

Niall Wall, Chairman of Ireland Newfoundland Connections outlined how the annual, alternating festival has developed to facilitate closer cooperation between the two countries and Dennis O'Keefe, Mayor of St. John's, Newfoundland talked of the common ancestry with almost 50% of the Newfoundland population able to trace their ancestry to South East Ireland.

Vicki O'Donnell of the Coastal & Marine Resource Centre in Cork then summarised Cork's Marine Leisure Strategy. She outlined the methods used to collect and present information. The Strategy recommended a partnership approach involving state, local authority, private and community investment.

 

 

Walter Foley with the group on his charter boat including Stephen Kehoe (far left)

The following recommended actions are outlined and they include: clustering of development around primary, secondary and tertiary hubs; the establishment of a minimum set of standards for marine and coastal infrastructure; the use of a quality mark / brand / network to promote and draw the marine leisure sector; a coordinated programme of public and private investments; an informed review of the County Development Plan and Local Area Plans; the creation of an Information System to promote the Marine Leisure Sector; the inclusion of a category for marine infrastructure under the Development Contributions Scheme; Tax breaks; provision of managed holiday facilities; public access to the water; encouragement of activities to promote the extension of the tourism season.

A series of three workshops included presentations from Captain Phil Murphy, Kilmore Quay Harbour Office, chaired a session on Marine Leisure Infrastructure, Declan Rice, CEO, Kilkenny Leader Partnership, chaired another session on Community Heritage Interpretation and the final session on Marketing and Packaging was chaired by Tara Kerry from Fáilte Ireland. David Minogue, New Ross Town Council chaired the feedback session and closed the formal proceedings of the conference.

Delegates: Dave Minogue, New Ross Town Council; Pat Curran, Newfoundland; Declan Rice, Kilkenny Leader Partnership; Alex Kelly, Rising Tide;

Tara Kerry, Failte Ireland; Phil Murphy, Kilmore Quay Harbour Office; John Chidley, Newfoundland and John Dimond, New Ross Three Sisters Marina.

The findings of the workshops are being compiled into a report and will be made available to all. A river trip was taken to Ballyhack in the lower reaches of Waterford Estuary, this was presented by Jim Foley of Mermaid Angling and Walter Foley of South East Charters Sea Angling, this provided an opportunity for participants to make further discussions on issues outlined earlier in the day.

The event was part of the Rising Tide project, with funding made available from the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales INTERREG 4a Programme.Keala Deegan and Jim Foley