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, we meet the Chair of Lough Neagh Partnership, Gary McErlain, and board members Una Johnston and Arnold Hatch.
As a seventh generation fisherman, Chair of the Lough Neagh Partnership board, Gary McErlain speaks about the confidence the board has in him to lead the organisation which is of great importance locally.
He talks of the Partnership’s stability and good work. In his role as Chair, Gary has also had the opportunity to engage with political representatives which is vital in encouraging them to focus on the needs of Lough Neagh.
Arnold Hatch of TADA Rural Network believes everyone has a role to play. He speaks about the diverse nature of the board and how the members work as a team, considering each other’s points of view.
Living on the edge of what she describes as the ‘jewel’ that Lough Neagh is, Una Johnston of Toomebridge Imenities Development and Leisure (TIDAL) is married to a Lough Neagh fisherman and believes that people are not aware of the good work that Lough Neagh Partnership does.
With funding from Lough Neagh Partnership, Una was instrumental in creating the Lock Keeper’s Cottage, affectionately known as the rural hospital. Everybody of every area, nationality, religion, political persuasion visits it and is welcome – she describes it as a ‘highlight’.
The views and opinions on the subject of this video are that of the contributors.
