Ireland on the Fly

This week’s episode is a fascinating look at the famous Castleconnell Fishery on the River Shannon in Limerick with Pat O’Connor who is chair of the Castleconnell River Association.

It’s a fishery steeped in history when it was internationally renowned for its huge salmon in the 1800s to the early 1900s and it became a thriving centre for tackle development including the Castleconnell rod.

But since the Ardnacrusha development dammed the lower part of the Shannon in 1929 to provide power for the nascent Irish Free State, the fishery became a shadow of itself, and coupled with modern day issues around salmon numbers, it’s reckoned that they’re now at just 3% of their historic levels.

However, the Castleconnell River Association is trying to do its part in helping to save the existing broodstock and increase the numbers through conservation measures and ambitious projects.

Pat O’Connor takes us through the incredible history of the fishery as well as the work they are doing with some hope for the future.

Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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A Salmon Masterclass with Paddy McDonnellAre you passionate about fly fishing but struggling to catch more salmon? With declining numbers, having the right tactics and understanding how and where to catch salmon is more important than ever before. 

On Thursday 20th June, one of Ireland's most renowned salmon anglers, Paddy McDonnell, gave a live webinar with insights and advice as to how to increase your catch rates on the water. 

Born near the famed River Moy, Paddy had already caught thousands of salmon by his 20s and has dedicated his life to helping others catch salmon on the rivers and lakes on the west coast of Ireland.

For this Masterclass, Paddy sat down with Ireland on the Fly presenters, Tom Doc Sullivan and Daire Whelan, with tips and advice to catch more salmon this season.

** This webinar is now available to you to access and watch back at any time, plus you will also receive a copy of Paddy’s notes.**

Tickets cost €10 and you can register and pay by going to:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5708122751527998295

** 50% Loyalty Discount **

As a loyalty bonus to those who have attended our two previous Masterclasses, we’re also pleased to offer a 50% discount for this Salmon Masterclass webinar.

If you already paid for our two previous Masterclasses and sign up for this one, then the €5 discount will be refunded to your account after you register and pay for this third webinar.

Just to say thank you for your loyal support of our Masterclass Series!

Who is giving the Masterclass?

Paddy McDonnell, one of Ireland’s most experienced and most respected salmon anglers, guides and instructors.

How do I access the webinar?

Once you register, you will receive an email with your unique link to log-in to access the webinar.

Register and pay for your access to A Salmon Masterclass with Paddy McDonnell at:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5708122751527998295

Stay tuned for our masterclasses throughout 2024, covering salmon, rivers, loughs, streamers, lures, dries – everything to make you a better salmon or trout fly angler, helping you to catch more this year and learn from the best.

For more information email us on [email protected]

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.irelandonthefly.com

We’ve our first update of the mayfly season for this week’s show and Mike Keady joins us to tell us how Corrib has been fishing.

The weather has been unsettled and cold which hasn’t helped things, Mike tells us, but he does expect it to pick up for the next 1-2 weeks so if you have the opportunity do try and make the most of it before it finishes up on Corrib.

On Derg, Shane Creamer was out fishing for the week but he did send in an update with word that it has been very slow.  However, there have been some bumper days when winds were light and some very good fish caught in the 4-6lb bracket on dries.

Join us again next week for another mayfly update when we’ll be getting the latest from Sheelin, Arrow and others.

Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   Plus you can sign up for our newsletter on IrelandontheFly.com and get regular updates on Instagram.com/IrelandontheFly.

***Mayfly Masterclass with Jackie MahonThe mayfly is up and the excitement is palpable.

Wherever you are in Ireland, the lakes and rivers are sure to be hatching with mayfly, if not now, then soon.

And to help you improve your catch rate this season, we’ve produced a Mayfly Tactics Masterclass with international angler, guide and renowned tyer, Jackie Mahon.

If you want to learn about set up, tactics, conditions and flies then register at:https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3138230924312556894where you can find out all the details to access the recording and Jackie’s notes.

If you want to catch that difficult fish or try out new tactics then this Masterclass is for you.For more information visit:www.irelandonthefly.com/masterclass

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.irelandonthefly.com

The Owenmore Fishery has been in the news recently with the State buying up the river and lands that are situated on the Dingle peninsula in Kerry.

So what does the future hold for the fishery and what is the fishing like on the river and lakes in one of Ireland’s most scenic locations?

Frank Maunsell has been the fishery manager there for over a quarter of a century and he joins us on this week’s show with tales of poachers, fishing and tactics that you’d scarcely believe but are well worth listening to…..

Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   Plus get regular updates on Instagram.com/IrelandontheFly.

***Mayfly Masterclass with Jackie MahonThe mayfly is up and the excitement is palpable.

Wherever you are in Ireland, the lakes and rivers are sure to be hatching with mayfly, if not now, then soon.

And to help you improve your catch rate this season, we’ve produced a Mayfly Tactics Masterclass with international angler, guide and renowned tyer, Jackie Mahon.

If you want to learn about set up, tactics, conditions and flies then register at:https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3138230924312556894where you can find out all the details to access the recording and Jackie’s notes.

If you want to catch that difficult fish or try out new tactics then this Masterclass is for you.For more information visit:www.irelandonthefly.com/masterclass

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.irelandonthefly.com

Rory’s.  It’s a famous name with a famous owner, Rory Harkin, of Rory’s Tackle Shop in Temple Bar in Dublin.

But did you know it opened its doors in 1959 when there were just warehouses around the area and trout and salmon could be caught by the bucketful within Dublin’s environs?

Rory Harkin may have passed on the running of the shop to his daughter Mary but he joins us this week to talk about his love of fly fishing, meeting and fishing with so many household names – including Charles Ritz, Hugh Falkus and Kingsmill Moore - and why the shop was always about more than just selling rods…..

Listen & follow on Apple or Spotify:

Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

***Mayfly Masterclass with Jackie MahonThe mayfly is up and the excitement is palpable.

Wherever you are in Ireland, the lakes and rivers are sure to be hatching with mayfly, if not now, then soon.

And to help you improve your catch rate this season, we’ve produced a Mayfly Tactics Masterclass with international angler, guide and renowned tyer, Jackie Mahon.

If you want to learn about set up, tactics, conditions and flies then register at:https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3138230924312556894where you can find out all the details to access the recording and Jackie’s notes.

If you want to catch that difficult fish or try out new tactics then this Masterclass is for you.For more information visit:www.irelandonthefly.com/masterclass

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.irelandonthefly.com

This week we’re turning our attention to first editions of Irish angling books.

The Ireland on the Fly Book Club is an important part of what we do here on the podcast and Muiris Huston, the medical contributor to the Irish times, is also a fly angler and fly fishing book collector and he joins us on the show to discuss the books everyone should have on their shelves.

Listen & follow on Apple or Spotify:

If you are interested in collecting, here are some websites that Muiris recommends:

www.anglingauctions.com

www.mcgahernbooks.ca

www.groverarebooks.co.uk 

www.herewardbooks.co.uk

And here is the RTE Archives story from 1968 about mayfly season on the Corrib that we were discussing:

https://www.rte.ie/archives/2023/0516/1383887-the-season-of-the-mayfly/Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   Plus you can sign up for our newsletter on IrelandontheFly.com and get regular updates on Instagram.com/IrelandontheFly.

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Mayfly Tactics Masterclass

For our latest Masterclass webinar on Thursday April 25th, international angler, guide and renowned fly tyer, Jackie Mahon, will be giving tips, advice and insights on the tactics to use for the coming mayfly season.

Tickets are €10 and to register for the Ireland on the Fly Mayfly Tactics Masterclass go to:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3138230924312556894

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.irelandonthefly.com

It might be hard to believe, but mayfly season is starting soon and it’s expected on Lough Derg from around April 20th onwards. This week’s guest is Shane Creamer from the Garrykennedy Angling Club and he gives us some great and honest insights into fishing Derg during mayfly and the rest of the season. Listen & follow on Apple or Spotify:

Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   Plus you can sign up for our newsletter on IrelandontheFly.com and get regular updates on Instagram.com/IrelandontheFly.

***

Mayfly Tactics Masterclass

For our latest Masterclass webinar on Thursday April 25th, international angler, guide and renowned fly tyer, Jackie Mahon, will be giving tips, advice and insights on the tactics to use for the coming mayfly season.

Tickets are €10 and to register for the Ireland on the Fly Mayfly Tactics Masterclass go to:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3138230924312556894

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.irelandonthefly.com

This week we speak to Nicholas Grubb who grew up in south Tipperary beside the Suir and the Tar and he tells us about the incredible catches of fish that were to be had growing up.

It’s a throwback to another age and his great grandfather Samuel also had a reported 62lber which would have been an Irish record but it was never measured or verified at the time.

Nicholas also previously wrote an article for Salmon Watch Ireland discussing some of the reasons why he thinks salmon numbers have plummeted since the 1960s.

Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   Plus you can sign up for our newsletter on IrelandontheFly.com and get regular updates on Instagram.com/IrelandontheFly.

***

Mayfly Tactics Masterclass

For our latest Masterclass webinar on Thursday April 25th, international angler, guide and renowned fly tyer, Jackie Mahon, will be giving tips, advice and insights on the tactics to use for the coming mayfly season.

Tickets are €10 and to register for the Ireland on the Fly Mayfly Tactics Masterclass go to:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3138230924312556894

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.irelandonthefly.com

This week we’re joined by Julie Gerry, former winner of the World Cup on Mask – and the only woman to have won it to date, she’s captain of the Irish Ladies Fly Fishing team, and now also Youth Officer with the Irish Trout Fly Fishers Association.

Julie tells us how, despite the success of Irish fly fishing teams, it is still a struggle to get more youths and women into the sport, and how maybe we should be looking to copy the successful programme in Northern Ireland based on the Foyle River Catchment Outdoor Group  or FROG CIC as it’s known.

Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   Plus you can sign up for our newsletter on IrelandontheFly.com and get regular updates on Instagram.com/IrelandontheFly.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.irelandonthefly.com

This week’s guest on Ireland on the Fly is a fly tyer and fly angler well known to many from fairs around Ireland and abroad and it was only when he moved to Ireland over twenty years ago that he discovered fly fishing and quickly embraced the sport, especially fly tying.

Having been originally from the Caribbean it’s no surprise that saltwater fly fishing remains his first love, but John also has more than a few interesting tales to tell, including the time he was a bodyguard to Mike Tyson – stories you don’t normally expect on a fly fishing podcast….

Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   Plus you can sign up for our newsletter on IrelandontheFly.com and get regular updates on Instagram.com/IrelandontheFly.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.irelandonthefly.com

This week on Ireland on the Fly, we turn our attention to the famous River Slaney. 

The river that was once the doyen of spring salmon rivers in Ireland has suffered more than most in recent times but there are still anglers and custodians of the Slaney that are fighting to keep it going and recover.

And to hear more about their work, as well as those halcyon days, we’re joined by Richard Burgess, former chairman of the Slaney River Trust.

Plus, Tom was a recent guest speaker at the illustrious Fly Fishers’ Club in London and gives some insights into its hallowed halls and collections.

Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   Plus you can sign up for our newsletter on IrelandontheFly.com and get regular updates on Instagram.com/IrelandontheFly.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.irelandonthefly.com