Angling to reach out to the local community

By Mary Dennehy

AN AWARD-winning angling initiative in Killinarden has netted funding from Inland Fisheries Ireland for three innovative and inclusive programmes which cater for children, young people and adults.

Established in 2014, the initiative was originally established as a means to reach out to young people living in Tallaght and its surrounding communities in South Dublin County, offering them the chance to learn about and enjoy angling while also engaging in weekly educational workshops on topics such as alcohol and drug prevention.

Over the years, the initiative, which is based out of the Killinarden Community Centre, has grown to include all ages, with one of its initiatives for adults, Angling for Mental Health and Suicide Awareness, among the programmes awarded funding by Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Angling for Mental Health and Suicide Awareness is an event that will take place this summer in aid of Pieta House and HOPE suicide prevention drop-in centre in Tallaght Village, while raising awareness of mental health through the angling community.

Inland Fisheries Ireland has also awarded funding to the initiative’s Angling Training Days, which will see children from the area learn how to fish and receive guidance from trained and certified coaches throughout the summer months.

The initiative has also received funding for its Killinarden Angling Open Day, which will be staged in Corkagh Park in Clondalkin this June.

Living in Killinarden, Patrick Ryan, who founded the initiative with Stephen O’Flanagan, told The Echo: “We’re delighted with the funding.

“This is a really inclusive club that caters to people of all ages – we have kids engaging with us who have motor difficulties, behavioural problems and different types of special needs.

“We’ve also worked alongside a number of local rehabilitation projects, the probation services, South Dublin County Council and IT Tallaght, where we helped students set up a fishing society.

“We go into schools and do seminars and try to attract young people into angling.”

He added: “We also have a Master Anglers Competition for adults which is a bit of fun and healthy competition between the older lads and a great way to meet new people and make new friends.

“The Killinarden Angling Initiative is all about social inclusion and breaking down boundaries.”

This summer the initiative will also host an event called Casting out Bullying which will see 60 young people engage in a programme of information, education and angling while learning about conservation and the eco-system.

The Inland Fisheries Ireland grant has been provided under its 2017 Sponsorship Scheme, which will support 79 initiatives to the tune of €30,000 throughout the country.

Locally, the 94th Dublin Walkinstown Scout Group’s annual Camp Fishing Programme has also been selected for funding.

Self-funded, the Killinarden Angling Initiative, which has won awards through the Community Endeavour and Community Initiative programmes, can be supported through its gofundme page or for further details visit its Facebook page or www.killinardenanglinginitiative.com