Dunmore East, which is set to hold a fisheries conference this September, according to Ireland South MEP Liadh Ní Riada. | Photos: Joe Cashin

A conference addressing the future of the Irish fishing industry is set to be held in Dunmore East this September, with MEP Liadh Ní Riada hopeful that the gathering can address many of the industry’s long-standing problems.

Speaking to The Munster Express in Ferrybank on Wednesday last, Ms Ní Riada, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee, said the conference was a “necessary development” given the current state of the industry.

“Ireland has 16 per cent of the European Union’s entire fishing waters, yet as things stand, the Irish fishing fleet can only fish two per cent of that, so there’s a huge disparity there for a start,” she said.

“And the majority of the Irish (fish) quota goes to 21 boats, 21 major players at the expense of the smaller, more sustainable, traditional fishermen that we know, such as those operating out of Dunmore East, for example.”

The Sinn Féin MEP added: “The Irish fleet, as things stands, is in danger of being decimated, unless positive steps are taken to protect our fishermen. I had a fishing delegation out in Brussels not too long ago, and it was heartbreaking to listen to what they had to tell me.

“I’d one of the delegation telling me that he’s never suggested that his son should follow him into fishing given how tough it has been for so many years; the problems that the delegation highlighted to me were not particularly new.

“Some of these fishermen had bought additional boats during the good times, and now they’re back down to one, yet they remain ‘in hoc’ up to their ears to the banks, and there seems to be no relief in sight for them, so something has to be done for our industry in terms of the quota and quota management.

“We’re looking at other alternatives and we hope to hold a major conference in Dunmore East this September to look at the Common Fisheries Policy in terms of how we can adapt it and how we can find a better, fairer way forward for our fishermen.”

The future of Dunmore East, which has been a subject of major local discussion in recent months, has been discussed in the ‘Turning The Tide’ report, the brainchild of the village’s Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) and WIT.

The EU-funded report will form the basis for a five-year plan for Dunmore East, which emphasises the importance of rejuvenating the harbour from a commercial perspective.

At a ‘Turning The Tide’ public meeting held in Dunmore in February, the benefit of developing a Regional Depuration Centre in the village (where shellfish subjected to low levels of bacterial contamination are purified for 48 hours in depuration tanks, ensuring the delivery of a clean product to restaurants and suppliers) was highlighted.

According to Mayo-based oyster farmer and marine biologist Fergal Guilfoyle, oysters, mussels and claims would be primarily handled at such a facility.

“At present,” said Mr Guilfoyle, “there is no depuration centre in the region,” and given the quality of shellfish between Dungarvan and Bannow Bay, there’s “a genuine opportunity” to create a new and sustainable industry in Dunmore East.

“Ninety per cent of Irish oysters are sent to France in one ton bulk bags; so France depurates them, then re-packs them and makes a lot of money that really ought to be getting made here, so there’s no doubt that we are losing out, we’re not adding enough value to what we’re producing here.”

Local product, right now, “is going right past your door to Rosslare Harbour,” Declan Guilfoyle added, given the absence of a depuration facility.

“Eighty to ninety per cent of the product is being transported by road, to the continent, for depuration, and if such a centre was created in Dunmore, then there’d be an immediate added value from a regional perspective.”

When put to her that there appears to be a disconnect between the Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) centre at Clonakilty and the needs of fishermen in Dunmore East, Liadh Ní Riada commented: “There is a problem alright and we need more joined-up thinking when it comes to improving matters for our fishermen…there are too many patches of the industry acting independently and yet they all, essentially, have the same issues to address.

“The development of Dunmore Harbour would be of huge benefit to the whole region, and the suggested redevelopment of the harbour is the chief reason behind staging the conference in Dunmore East. And it will also form part of a wider debating platform when it comes to our fishing industry and what, on a political level, we ought to be doing to sustain it.”

The fishing industry, Ms Ní Ríada stressed, is “not all about guys out in boats catching fish”. She added: “You’re talking about marine technology, marine energy, ‘blue growth’ in the fishing area; you’re also talking about tourism, so we intend to look at a wide range of issues in a holistic manner so that we can propose a connected approach that can create a viable and sustainable alternative to what we have currently.

“And I am busy beavering away at this at committee level in the parliament; that’s what voters sent me to Europe to do and it’s vital that I do what I can to give voice to our fishermen, who have been so disenfranchised for so long.”

Dermot Keyes

Pictured at the Ocean Hotel on February 12th were, from left: Yvonne Byrne (Rural Development Consultant), Marie Flynn (Dunmore East FLAG Committee) and Stephanie Sheehan, Tús employee with FLAG.

The development of a more deep-rooted and sustainable tourism sector in Dunmore East was one of the key findings which emerged from the ‘Turning The Tide’ survey, which was published just under a fortnight ago.

The survey forms part of a project that WIT’s Peter McLoughlin hopes will put “the village at the cutting edge of change and to extract the maximum amount of jobs from such a change”.

And with 64 per and 63 per cent of respondents respectively calling for the addition of further festivals (and eco-tourism events) along with the development of a permanent tourism office in the village, it’s clear that tourism has a role to play in boosting the local economy.

No less than 20 different tourism ideas for Dunmore were referenced by respondents (with a sample size of 178 applying to this issue), with the development of a car park in the lower village topping the list, with almost 70 per cent identifying the need for such an amenity.

The next nine ideas on the survey as identified by respondents were (in the following order):
* Development of the Coastal Path
* Cycle patch along the Estuary
* Map and information boards for tourists
* Promotion of historic sites
* Maritime Museum and cafe
* Eco-tourism/whale and mammal boat trips
* A Marina
* A seafood bar selling fresh fish and wine (which one respondent noted: “We have that already”) and a
* Maritime education/heritage centre.

According to Dr Yvonne Byrne, who analysed the findings of the survey: “Parking came up as the biggest issue, particularly when it comes to the three busiest months of the year each summer from a tourism perspective, as did road works, quite strongly.

“In terms of walking trails, it’s clear that people value the further development and marketing of the coastal path, the walk through the woods, etc, which were identified as great assets for the area.

“And the idea of connecting to other communities long the Estuary, be that by foot or on bicycle was also brought up by many respondents, and given how walking and cycling have become increasingly popular in recent years, this is certainly an idea worthy of further and serious consideration.”

Acknowledging that ‘adventure tourism’ has been developed well in Dunmore East, Dr Byrne feels the success of the Adventure Centre provides local proof, developed over several years, that a worthwhile project can create a buy-in from residents and visitors alike.

As for what events or initiatives could be developed to promote and develop tourism, staging further events in Dunmore East, in addition to the Food and Bluegrass Festivals, led the way. This question was answered by 105 respondents, with the next five areas identified all breaking down pretty evenly in terms of respondents views, namely: aqua tourism, parking, traffic management and public transport, village and coastal walks, heritage, as well as additional hospitality and leisure facilities.

“Holding events at different times of the year was seen as having considerable potential when it comes to attempting to extend the tourism season as it currently stands.”

As for the development of yacht facilities in Dunmore East, Dr Byrne admitted that this question elicited some “mixed views”, including the following comments: “There is a target audience for this in Dunmore but I am unsure as it may take the ‘little’ beautiful village and turn it into something bigger.”

Wrote another: “I am unsure as it would potentially have an impact on the fishing sector. It would have to be considered when developing. Wouldn’t the pier need to be dredged before this was considered?”

Another respondent noted: “No problem with a boat dock as long as it is realised that although tourism is now the main income to the village, it is the fishing industry that should be developed firstly.”

However, of the 106 respondents who replied to this question, almost 65 per cent were in favour of such a development.

“There should be a boat building company/training facility based within the harbour,” said one supporter.
“At the moment, the sailing season runs from June to mid-September (three and a half months). With a good marina, this could be extended from Easter to the end of October (i.e. seven to eight months.”

Another advocate noted: “A visiting boat dock/marina is a huge opportunity for Dunmore as there is little in this regard between the UK and Cork. This could generate a lot of high value tourism.”

A third supporter wrote: “Sounds like a good idea. If it attracts more boats, people and money, then it should be a winner.”

Interestingly, tourism operators ranked seventh in the eight sectors listed under the survey’s eighth question: ‘Which groups do you feel require more supports in Dunmore East?”

The eight groups, listed in order of preference were:
1: Fishermen, 2: Youth, 3: Unemployed, 4: Small Business owners, 5: Families, 6: The Retired, 7: Tourism Operators and 8: Other.

Branding of the area, both from a tourism and product-related perspective, was also referenced by survey respondents, said Dr Byrne, feeding into the concept of capitalising on Dunmore’s marine produce, which we reported on in last week’s edition.

“I think a lot of people in the locality feel that there is something special about Dunmore East but that as things stand, the village is being somewhat under-marketed,” she said.

“With that in mind, I feel respondents feel we ought to capture this through promotion of the village’s fish and tourism products.

“This follows on from work already undertaken in this area by both WIT and the FLAG group on branding, and the village is fortunate that such a body of work has already been done and provides a foundation for future development on that particular front.”

A public consultation process is now being undertaken by the survey’s feasibility team, headed by WIT’s Peter McLoughlin ahead of the publication of a draft report next month and it’s envisaged that that report will seek to establish a five-year plan for the village.

Reviving Dunmore East from a fisheries and tourism perspective has been at the heart of the 'Turning The Tide' project, which was discussed at the Ocean Hotel on Wednesday last. | Photos: Joe Cashin

The re-energising of disused buildings in Dunmore East Harbour, the creation of new marine and microbusiness opportunities and a meaningful way of engaging with the seaside village’s youth were urged at a public meeting held at the Ocean Hotel on Wednesday last.

The meeting discussed the findings of ‘Turning The Tide’, a major community survey which was designed by the Dunmore East Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) Committee and a feasibility study team from Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).

The plan also came with the official backing of Waterford City & County Council, along with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).

Some 557 surveys were circulated to residents between November and December, of which 178 (32 per cent) were returned.

Taking into account the seasonal variance in Dunmore’s population (after all, 39 per cent of Dunmore properties were vacant on Census Night 2011), it’s believed that “up to 20 per cent of the distributed surveys may have been delivered to empty properties”.

Tony Ennis & Co inputted the returned surveyed data, which was in turn analysed by Dr Yvonne Byrne, who was among the keynote speakers on Wednesday last.

“The whole idea is that whatever we develop (from this survey) is developed for the village, by the village,” said Peter McLoughlin, the feasibility study’s leader and WIT’s Head of School of Science and Computing.

The revitalisation of Dunmore East in terms of fish processing and packaging emerged as one of the survey’s key findings, as did a hope expressed by over 70 per cent of survey respondents that a weekly fish market would be introduced on the pier.

Exactly 70 per cent of the survey’s respondents wished to see Dunmore East branded on local produce, 65 per cent wished to see a fish factory, while almost the same number of respondents wish to see a major boat renovation service introduced to the village.

In some of the comments added to the survey under the question ‘Would you like the following developed in Dunmore East’, it was stated: “We already have (a) fish factory and weekly fish markets on (the) pier,” and “A fish factory and support to remove barriers in (the) fishing sector (is) very important”.

Adding value to the herring trade and the development of seaweed harvesting and baths was also referenced.
The development of yachting facilities was also raised in the survey, with 106 respondents offering a view on this issue, while 69 chose not to offer an opinion.

Of the 106 that did, almost 65 per cent would be pleased to see an expanded amenity of this kind in Dunmore East, 31 per cent expressed mixed views while 10 per cent were either opposed or not interested in such a proposal.

Respondents felt, (in the order as listed) that fishermen required the greatest level of support in Dunmore East, followed by the area’s youth, the unemployed, small business owners and families.

As for what areas presented potential opportunities for employment, tourism and accommodation was noted by 58 per cent of respondents, with fish processing/factories/food just a percentage point down on the top biller. Micro-enterprises and the leisure industry listed third and fourth, but with considerably lower percentages (both in the mid teens).

But perhaps the most concerning outcome noted in the survey was the fact that 24 per cent of respondents said they had been directly affected by emigration, with husbands and children of local residents now working in, to list but a few, Dubai, Australia, the United States, Canada and London.

The input of the Department of Agriculture and the Marine, particularly with respect to the lease holding status of several buildings in the Harbour, is considered pivotal to any plan for Dunmore succeeding in the long term. That the Department had no presence at last Wednesday’s meeting did not go unnoticed.

“They’re dictating everything that is happening down in the harbour,” said a member of the public from the floor. “And yet there are none of them here tonight. We pay their wages and there’s not one of them here, and that doesn’t seem right to me.”

Those at the meeting were assured that Department officials shall be given “plenty of notice” ahead of the next public meeting which will be held in Dunmore when it comes to attempting to enact a formalised plan for the village’s future.

But Michael Kennedy of the Dunmore East FLAG Committee believes that the perceived intransigence the local community has long since noted from marine-related officialdom cannot continue.

He explained: “Clonakilty (where the BIM Seafood Development Centre is located) has to listen to us because there is a lot more pressure that can be applied at local government level and local government needs to see something happening here.

“This is a prime tourist destination in this county and region and we cannot be left with a derelict industrial site – which we will have in two to three years’ time – if there aren’t new roofs put on those buildings, and if there isn’t an economic reason for retaining these buildings put in place.

“So we’re actually coming to an endgame in all of this, and it’s not just a village voice at work here; it’s a co-ordinated, networked voice of opinion when it comes to Dunmore East’s future.”

A public consultation process between now and March is to be undertaken prior to the publication of a draft report regarding the five-year plan for Dunmore East. We’ll have more on this survey in next week’s edition.

The development of a depuration centre in Dunmore East Harbour could provide Waterford Airport with an unprecedented non-passenger-related commercial link. | Photo: Eoin Murphy

A rejuvenated Dunmore East Harbour could prove an unlikely strategic ally in securing the long-term future of Waterford Airport, a public meeting in the village was told on Wednesday last.

The benefit of developing a Regional Depuration Centre in Dunmore East (where shellfish subjected to low levels of bacterial contamination are purified for 48 hours in depuration tanks, thus ensuring the delivery of a clean product to restaurants and suppliers) could also provide Waterford Airport with a welcome fillip.

Speaking at the publication of the ‘Turning The Tide’ survey, from which it’s hoped a five-year plan for Dunmore East can be developed, Mayo-based oyster farmer and marine biologist Fergal Guilfoyle said oysters, mussels and claims would be primarily handled at such a facility.

And were such a business to develop locally, given the demand for such produce abroad, then the nearby Waterford Airport would provide an ideal facility to develop a local export market for South East sourced, depurated, packed and branded shellfish.

The waters off Dunmore East are categorised as ‘B’ (referring to the aforementioned low levels of bacterial contamination) which means any produce fished from it would require depuration.

“At present,” as Mr Guilfoyle noted, “there is no depuration centre in the region,” and given the quality of shellfish between Dungavan and Bannow Bay, there’s a genuine opportunity to create a new and sustainable industry in Dunmore East, he felt.

“There are great oysters in Dungarvan, and there are tonnes of mussels being produced in Wexford, but you can’t buy either product locally, so the FLAG Project here in Dunmore East suggested the development of a depuration centre in the village.”

Mr Guilfoyle, who previously worked for Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) added: “Ireland exports the vast majority of such products, so the mussels from Wexford largely go to Holland, where the market is, and they’re depurated there.

“Ninety per cent of Irish oysters are sent to France in one ton bulk bags; so France depurates them, then re-packs them and makes a lot of money that really ought to be getting made here, so there’s no doubt that we are losing out, we’re not adding enough value to what we’re producing here.”

Local product, right now, “is going right past your door to Rosslare Harbour,” Declan Guilfoyle added, given the absence of a depuration facility.

“Eighty to ninety per cent of the product is being transported by road, to the continent, for depuration, and if such a centre was created in Dunmore, then there’d be an immediate added value from a regional perspective.”

He continued: “It would give local producers the opportunity to sell directly to the local market, which they largely don’t do at all at present; it would give them access to national markets – we’re only a couple of hours from Dublin, and right now there’s a huge demand from Dublin restaurants for shellfish.

“And added to that, there’s the opportunity to go international and establish a link with the Chinese market, for example, because you could potentially fly a lot of this product to Hong Kong or elsewhere in China directly from Waterford Airport and get a much better price for the product in so doing…so there is a chance here to add value to a product that is exported in bulk.”

A greenfield facility might be required for the creation of such a facility in the event of a large scale development, but a smaller scale operation, which, in theory could be based in the Harbour, could still access foreign markets directly by air.

Capital requirements would be needed to purify the seawater (via a UV filter) in any such facility, Mr Guilfoyle added, but he noted: “the infrastructural requirements are not huge”.

Fergal Guilfoyle also stressed that a community owned facility would represent the ideal management model, thus ensuring the greatest possible added value from a local and regional perspective. And given the nature of the trade, such a facility would be a year-round operation.

Meanwhile, efforts to secure a replacement carrier at Killowen for the outgoing Flybe service are ongoing, according to a statement issued to The Munster Express on Friday last.

In a brief comment which can only be described as tight-lipped, a spokesperson confirmed that “negotiations are ongoing and are strictly business discussions at present”.

As soon as the Airport is “in a position to discuss the activity in a public forum,” the local media shall be alerted to any good news, news which simply cannot come soon enough.

According to Waterford Chamber Chief Executive Nick Donnelly: “We know that management are working day and night to find a new carrier; it’s a critical situation, a real challenge, and it’s vital that, in the short term, we find a solution.

“And I know from my discussions with the Chief Executive and his team at the Airport that they’re leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to secure a new carrier, so let’s hope we’ll have good news on that front very soon.” (See News 20 for more from last Wednesday’s meeting in Dunmore East).

Ashley Loftus

She’ll be performing Damien Rice’s The Blower’s Daughter to the 4-judge panel, in the hope of making it to the series’ live shows in May.

Ashley works as a freelance digital marketing manager and is based at Central Arts on The Quay, where she helps co-ordinate the venue’s eclectic live music programme. She’s been singing for a few years but it took her quite a while to pluck up the courage to perform in public, she says.

“I would have always sang in my own bedroom but nobody – not even my Mam – knew about it. A few years ago I plucked up the courage to enter a singing competition in Dunmore, the O Factor. I came second so I entered again the following year and I won. The prize was ten hours recording time at Trevor Darmody’s Waterford Academy of Music and the Arts (WAMA) and it was really the encouragement I got from Trevor that helped to get my confidence up and made me think maybe I could enter something like The Voice.”
Ashley was tight-lipped about how she did on the prerecorded Voice show and would not be drawn on whether any of the judges, Kian Egan, Bressie, Una Foden or Rachel Stevens, turned around and selected her for their ‘live shows’ team. “It was a great experience at the time, getting their feedback but I am really nervous at the thought of people watching me on the TV…I’m going to be mortified, to be honest.”

Tune in to RTE One this Sunday at 6.30pm to see how Ashley gets on.