Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland, is the heart of a vast interconnected aquatic ecosystem, from its surrounding catchment area to the rivers which flow into it and flow out to the north coast.
In recent years, that heart has been under increasing pressure and, in 2023, an unprecedented blue-green algal bloom appeared, causing immense public interest and which was visible from space.
In this video, Gerry Darby, Manager of Lough Neagh Partnership, travels to Emyvale in Co Monaghan to meet Alan McCabe of the River Blackwater Catchment Trust, where, with thanks to mitigation measures, water quality is pristine. We also meet Joanna Braniff of The Rivers Trust who discusses the meaning of Lough Neagh’s catchment on the wider public.
Lough Neagh is under threat from a number of factors, not least the algal blooms which are driven by nutrient pollution, especially phosphorus. One of the biggest culprits is run-off from agriculture and damaged peatlands in the Lough’s vast catchment area, which spans across five counties in Northern Ireland and parts of Co Monaghan.
Among the offenders is the River Blackwater catchment, which channels high levels of phosphate into the Lough. However as Gerry Darby found out during a visit to Emyvale, there is hope, and it is coming from the upper stretches of the Mountain Water River in Co Monaghan.
Here, simple yet powerful mitigation measures are making a real difference. From fencing livestock out of waterways to creating buffer zones that absorb nutrient run-off, local farmers and conservationists are teaming up. In just six years, 18km of river has been protected, resulting in pristine Q5 water quality, an exceptional status held by only around 30 rivers across the island.
This isn’t just good for nature; it is a win for farmers too. With improved water quality, some have qualified for higher environmental scheme payments. Even downstream dairy farmers benefit as they can maintain their stock levels without stricter regulations.
Gerry Darby believes that there are opportunities to solve the problems facing Lough Neagh by working together across the island, as what’s happening on the Mountain Water River proves that cross-border cooperation works. Shared Island funding and collaboration between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland elected representatives are key to scaling this success across the Blackwater catchment and ultimately reversing the damage to Lough Neagh.
Gerry says that everyone should have a sense of ownership for their local river, reporting any incidents of pollution to help Lough Neagh.
Joanna Braniff ends the video by explaining what the catchment means to everyone living in Northern Ireland and how the contributing factors impact on Lough Neagh and how the issues begin far beyond the Lough in the rivers in the catchment area.
Joanna believes that the problem on Lough Neagh is a collective one, demanding a collective solution. Every stream matters. Every action counts.
The views and opinions on the subject of this video are that of the contributors.
