Conference to establish the need for creation of Dodder River Trust
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A CONFERENCE is being held by a number of community groups in IT Tallaght on Thursday, May 17, to establish whether there is “an appetite” for the creation of a Dodder River Trust.
There are currently six river trusts in Ireland, and if the Dodder River Trust is established it will be the first urban river trust in the country.
The Dodder River at the Firhouse Weir
The 16-mile-long waterway runs from its source at Kippure in the Wicklow Mountains before going out to sea at Grand Canal Dock.
Victoria White from Dodder Action told The Echo: “The conference is to establish whether there is an appetite for a trust to be set up.
“If we set up a trust, stakeholders from Ringsend to Tallaght can maintain the Dodder.
“A trust can eventually employ people, it can provide educational activities for children, and it can establish groups to regularly pick up litter around the river.
Tourist attraction
“We would also monitor wildlife around the river and maximise the river as a tourist attraction – it’s one of the finest city rivers in Europe.
“It’s a place of recreation and refuge for thousands of people along the river.”
Mark Horton of Rivers Trust Ireland will be delivering an address at the conference, and anyone who would like to play a part in starting a Dodder River Trust is invited to come along, they don’t need to have had any prior involvement with the community groups who are holding the conference.
The conference will be held in IT Tallaght on Thursday, May 17, with refreshments and networking at 6.30pm and a presentation beginning at 7.30pm.
Attendance must be confirmed by registering for a free ticket online here.
