News

It is anticipated that most projects receiving funding will begin in 2005, so look out for a Lough Neagh Partnership funded project in your area.

The Environment and Heritage Service has asked the Lough Neagh Partnership to nominate a director to join the Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Advisory Committee. Mr. Conor Corr, the Treasurer of the Lough Neagh Partnership is the newly appointed Partnership representative for the LNAC.

Gerry Darby, the Lough Neagh Partnership manager, has also been asked to sit as an Observer on the Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Coordinating Committee.

The Partnership has been working on a number of environmental projects and will be looking for more fundable projects in the Lough Neagh wetlands area in 2005.

· The Lough Neagh Advisory Committee (LNAC) is being funded to develop a complete baseline for Lough Neagh to help the Lough Neagh Partnership in its strategic planning.

· The RSPB has received an offer of grant aid for habitat work on its Portmore Lough wetland bird sanctuary.

· Kinnego Marina is developing a reedbed part funded by the Partnership at its new harbourmaster site.

· Additionally an environmental expert is being hired to work jointly with the LNAC and the Partnership.

· Readymix sand traders are to plant native tree species at their site near Toome.

· The Farming and Wildlife Action Group is being funded to develop biodiversity action plans with farmers in the Lough Neagh area.

A number of old quays are being refurbished and a few new developments are planned at strategic points around the Lough.

· The construction of a marina and visitor’s centre at Kinnego Harbour is underway.

· Refurbishment of the facilities at Battery Harbour, including Lough Neagh Rescue.

· A grant has been offered for the refurbishment of the Loughshore and Cranfield jetties.

The Partnership has been involved in providing funding for the production of informational material on topics relating to Lough Neagh.

· The updating and republishing of Daniel Donnelly’s renowned book ‘On Lough Neagh’s Shores’.

· The production of an Island Heritage Guidebook by the River Bann and Lough Neagh Association.

· The production of a Lough Neagh place names publication with Queen’s University.

· Printing of educational pamphlets for use by visitors and schools by the Oxford Island Discovery Centre.

· The Partnership will itself be looking into the marketing and promotion of Lough Neagh and Lough Neagh products in the near future.

The Lough Neagh Partnership has taken over the management of the Loughshore Trail and has offered funding to a number of projects to improve access to the countryside.

· The provision of cycling facilities and kayak touring for the Craigavon Watersports Centre.

There are a number of heritage sites around the Lough that the Partnership has managed to grant aid.

· Coyle’s cottage, a 250 year old traditional fisherman’s house in County Tyrone.

· A complete mill, mill race and mill lodge have been saved from demolition in Antrim thanks to a heritage minded developer and the Partnership.

· The Inland Waterways Association of Ireland is undertaking a series of projects on the restoration of the Coalisland canal and lock house.

There are a number of other projects supported by the Lough Neagh Partnership, including these mentioned here.

· An applicant from Randalstown has been given a grant to set up a traditional quilting business.

· A number of festivals around Lough Neagh are receiving support over the coming years.

· A number of schools are to teach the ancient art of willow weaving in the Lough Neagh area.

The Partnership’s Annual General Meeting is to be held at the end of January 2005.

The Partnership is aiming to open the Lough Neagh Strategic Fund for a second round of applications in February 2005. As part of this, the Partnership will actively seek out project submissions from suitable areas and organisations around the Lough that have not received funding in the first round. Part of this strategy will include meetings with fishermen, councils, special interest organizations, businesses and the built heritage sector. The branding and marketing of Lough Neagh will also be looked at in association with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

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LOUGH NEAGH STRATEGIC FUND UPDATE

First round of projects are in!

Back in Aug 2003 the Lough Neagh Partnership was set up to co ordinate the strategic protection and development of the Lough Neagh wetlands and one of the main tools it received to carry out this task was a £3.2 million development fund from the Department Of Agriculture and Rural Development, known as the “Lough Neagh Strategic Fund”.

LOUGH NEAGH

The largest lake in the British Isles covers an area of over 380 square kilometres and is located in the centre of Northern Ireland. Lough Neagh is a world renowned wetland site and has a very significant influence on waterways throughout Northern Ireland and parts Eire.

Apart from its qualities as an internationally recognised natural heritage site, from pre-historic times Lough Neagh has played a significant role as a fishery and communication link with the interior of Ireland. In 1787, Ireland's first canal linked the coal deposits of Tyrone to Dublin via the Lough.

Today, sand barges ply their trade and the Lough supports Europe's largest eel fishery as well as providing salmon, trout and perch catches. It is an important centre for recreational pursuits and Lough Neagh has increasingly become the major water resource for Northern Ireland supplying much of the demand for the heavily populated Belfast area.

The first round of the Strategic fund is now closed and it has attracted a substantial amount interest from a wide range of people and organizations around the Lough. Demand for grant assistance to develop projects on the Lough has been very high with over 89 applications received, requesting a total grant assistance of £3.4 million. The Partnership has also been very pleased to see that demand for assistance from the fund has also been fairly evenly spread around the Lough.

THE LOUGH NEAGH PARTNERSHIP AND STRATEGIC FUND

The Lough Neagh Partnership, a non-profit organisation, has been set up to take on the strategic development of the Lough Neagh wetlands. The Partnership Board is comprised of members from stakeholder organisations including representatives from local authorities, statutory and community organisations, as well as people with a particular interest in the Lough.

The fund has now received applications to all of the 9 themes identified in the original Lough Neagh Strategic Fund Action Plan and the type of projects under consideration include new marinas and visitor sites, environmental projects to restore wetlands and improve the Lough’s biodiversity, general water and land based activity tourism projects and projects which will preserve the Lough’s built and industrial heritage, improve navigation and support local fishermen and other small businesses. The Partnership also hopes to receive funding to start marketing and promoting the Lough.

The Lough Neagh Partnership has managed to obtain funding in excess of £3 million through the Department of Agriculture for the support of projects on and around Lough Neagh and the Lough Neagh Strategic Fund has been set up for this purpose. The first round of applications to the Fund has attracted much interest from a wide range of interests and organizations from all regions around the Lough.

“People are now clearly looking towards the Lough as a major resource, and demand for projects has been very strong... I have no doubt that the Lough Neagh Strategic Fund will make a significant contribution to developing the Lough in a positive sustainable way and look forward to continuing to work with people around the Lough to achieve real positive change .”

The Lough Neagh Strategic Fund supports local projects in partnership with the community, local and national authorities as well as private businesses to help develop the Lough in a sustainable way.

The Partnership should be ready to start allocating its resources in August 2004 and it is likely that it will open again in the late autumn for a second round of applications, so watch this space.

There are 9 broad Themes covered by the Fund which include over 25 pots of money for specific types of projects. The Lough Neagh Strategic Fund Themes are distilled from ideas discussed in the original Lough Neagh Management Strategy. Types of projects that the Lough Neagh Partnership is keen to support include infrastructure developments such as marinas and visitor sites, environmental projects such as wetlands management, biodiversity projects and countryside activity tourism and local arts and crafts.

In the first tranche of applications to the fund, close to 100 applications were made for projects in the Lough Neagh Area. These applications are currently being assessed according to DARD and LNP guidelines and it is likely that the first projects to obtain money from the Lough Neagh Strategic Fund will begin before the end of this year.

Applications have come from all sectors of society, including private and public bodies and covering all the Themes supported by the Lough Neagh Partnership.

For further information on the themes and types of projects covered as well as the application process please refer to our Information Page or contact the Lough Neagh Partnership directly by telephoning 028 7941 7941.

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CALL FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS 2006