Fishing permit dispute could threaten Roscommon's bid for major European tournament

A dispute over a fishing permit on the River Suck could threaten a Roscommon bid for a major European coarse fishing tournament, worth €0.5m to the county’s economy.

There have been repeated calls over the last 10 years to amend the Midlands Fisheries Group permit, which covers game and coarse fishing. It’s one of the few permits in the country required for coarse anglers to fish on the River Suck and several other select rivers and lakes.

Coarse angling is free in most other fishing locations around the country, and they don’t require a permit for this type of fishing.

A long campaign by local angling bodies to urge the Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to remove the inclusion of coarse fishing from this Midlands Fisheries Group permit, which costs €45 annually, has proved unsuccessful to date.

Paying to fish on the River Suck, regarded as one of the best coarse fishing locations in Ireland, has led to a dramatic fall off in anglers using the river, it has been claimed.

The dispute could now threaten a local bid to stage the week-long European coarse fishing championships along the River Suck in 2026. The prestigious competition, which could be worth up to €0.5m in spin-offs to the county’s economy, attracts 25 teams annually from across Europe with each bringing a minimum number of nine anglers.

Chairperson of the River Suck Valley coarse angling club, Dara Finnegan said if the coarse fishing element of the permit is not removed, there is little point in bidding for these prestigious championships.

His club and other local angling clubs believe the €45 permit would act as a disincentive for anglers from here and abroad to return to the county, hindering the development of coarse angling in the Suck Valley region.

“Someone won’t come to the River Suck and pay to fish for three days when there is another venue 20 minutes down the road where coarse fishing is free,” he said.

Time is now running out for a potential bid to be submitted for the European championships next year. “We can’t put a bid in place because firstly we would be putting a bid in against two other venues around the country that don’t have such permits. Secondly, there is no point spending funding on the River Suck to develop it because nothing will follow on from it,” he said.

Mr Finnegan explained that former Irish hosts of these big fishing tournaments, including World events, not just benefit from the tournament but it puts areas on the wider angling map. This leads to repeat visitors from across the country and abroad.

He said once a venue gets a major championship, he said it could lead to other events including world championships. He pointed to locations in Cork and Monaghan which have benefitted enormously in this regard, including the development of local fishing facilities.

The River Suck permit issue has been raised many times with the IFI but appeals to amend the permit have continued to prove unsuccessful. The campaign has also involved local politicians with Deputy Claire Kerrane, Senator Gareth Scahill, Cllr Emer Kelly , Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice and former councillor Orla Leyden to the forefront.

Responding to queries from the Roscommon Herald, a spokesperson said that Inland Fisheries Ireland was not considering any plans to remove the permit requirement for the Midland Fisheries Group permit areas.

“Inland Fisheries Ireland always acknowledge stakeholder concerns. We work closely with anglers on all matters relating to fishing in the general area and have funded significant development works relating to angling on the River Suck,” said the spokesperson.