The Nore Vision Project
Nore Vision Update 2022
Nore River Catchment Trust
The Nore River Catchment Trust (NRCT) held it first board meeting in early 2021 with Michael Starrett, retired Heritage Council CEO as Chairperson. NRCT is a community based organization working with individuals and groups in the Nore catchment with the vision of A healthy and vibrant Nore catchment that is appreciated and enjoyed by all. Its strategy for 2022 – 2027 was launched in November 2021 with a catchment wide consultation. The strategy outlines objectives and actions under three pillars; Environment and Heritage, Landuse and Enterprise and Recreation and Amenity
Following on the success of the initial Nore Vision training programme in 2020 and 2021, Kilkenny Leader Partnership and Laois Partnership Company in conjunction with NRCT are running a second training in action programme. This training programme is aligned with a number of the objectives of the NRCT Strategy.
AMENITY DEVELOPMENT
Training programme got off to a good start early this year with the Amenity Development Training using a blend of online and in person sessions to engage with paddlers, swimmers and other outdoor enthusiasts from Laois and Kilkenny. The groups came together for a field trip to the Suir Blue Way in Co. Tipperary on a lovely sunny day in early March. One of the really positive aspects of this training is that the groups are now engaged at a catchment level and can work together for the development of the amenity value of the River Nore.
BIODIVERSITY
Eanna Ni Lamha lead the first of the biodiversity walks at the wonderful Abbeyleix on Saturday 12th February. The event was a This was a celebration of all that is amazing about our natural heritage. Walks continued in February in Kilkenny and Thomastown with great crowds attending in spite of the wintery conditions. There is a schedule of walks and talks which runs right through to May 2022. There are specific bat and bird events and also more general nature walks.
WATER QUALITY AND INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT
Online water quality session begun in later February, again these are very well attended. The onsite field sessions at six locations will commence later in the spring as water levels drop and weather improves
Invasive species, particularly Himalyan Balsam continue to be a problem in the Nore Catchment. The current training programme will give renewed focus to group already involved and aims to encourage participation on the tributaries in Laois to initially determine the presence or absence. This year we are specifically recruiting young people in sports clubs eg Thomastown paddlers to take part in the removal of the balsam.
DCU WATER INSTITUTE PARTNERSHIP
Nore River Catchment Trust have partnered with DCU Water Institute for a programme of water quality monitoring at over twenty sites on the Nore and its tributaries in Co Laois. Training commences on Saturday 12th March and the testing will continue through spring and summer. Group and individuals from all town and villages in the catchment have been invited to participate and there is great interest and signup. The project will be completed with a report on all the results gathered by the citizen scientist in Laois.
BUTLER GALLERY PEARL MUSSEL
NRCT have joined with the renowned Butler Gallery in Kilkenny to take part in a project which will culminate with an artistic feature of the threatened native species
ICATCH NETWORK
KLP staff and NRCT attended a ICatch Network training day in Wicklow in January with other river trust organisations from around the country. It was a great day in the wilds of county Wicklow learning about how a river changes along its course from the source to the sea. It was also great to meet members of the other organisations in person for the first time. Good communication and knowledge sharing continues with members of the ICatch network.
NRCT are in the process of securing funding for the operational costs of the running of the trust. This is essential for the delivery of the strategy over the next five years
Final Nore Vision Report
What is The Nore Vision? First and foremost, The Nore Vision is an evolving initiative. To date, The Nore Vision has been a consultation process funded by Kilkenny LEADER Partnership, Laois Partnership, North Tipperary Development Company and South Tipperary Development Company through LEADER funding under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.
Who is The Nore Vision? The Nore Vision is ‘you’. It is every stakeholder who has participated in the consultation process, sharing their hopes and ideas for the future of River Nore and its tributaries, whether an individual, or as a representative of a group, organisation or agency. The Nore Vision is overseen by a voluntary steering group with members drawn from the community, development organisations, local authorities and statutory agencies.
The Nore Vision process: From October 2017 to March 2018, over 200 people participated in consultation workshops for The Nore Vision including residents, landowners, community groups, development organisations and government agencies. The Nore Vision consultations revealed that while people, groups and agencies have a range of perspectives and priorities when it comes to the River Nore and its tributaries, there is a great deal of common ground when it comes to their ‘Vision’ for the future.
The Nore Vision report: This report brings together the contributions of all the stakeholders that participated in the consultation and presents their collective aspirations and ideas for the future of the Nore and its tributaries. It also reveals the extent of people, groups, organisations and agencies working on matters related to the Nore. The consensus that is documented in this report from around the catchment and across interests is a valuable outcome of the consultation process. This is summarised into the five priority themes of ‘The Nore Vision’ towards the end of the report. This is the statement of the shared aspirations of stakeholders for the future of the River Nore and all of its tributaries (the River), the land that drains into them, and the people who live and work there. It sets out the future that the participants in the 2017/2018 consultation process for The Nore Vision wish to see for the catchment during their lifetime.
Sound of The Nore
Series of podcasts about the NoreVision project.
Programme 1 - Nore Vision - An Introduction to Nore Vision
Ann Marie McSorley and Dr Amanda Greer join Sue Nunn to talk about the Nore Vision Project and the various strands involved in promoting and nurturing the River Nore along its catchment area. The launch of the 1000 Friends of the Nore Campaign is live.
Programme 2 - Nore Vision - Citizen Science Project
It’s all about the uplands and engaging with farmers whose land skirts the River Nore in this interview with architect Helena Fitzgerald. She is joined by Martin Rafter, Assistant CEO of Kilkenny Leader Partnership who gives an insight into the networks and collaborations which have come about as a result of the Nore Vision Project.
Programme 3 - Nore Vision - Invasive Species Project
Maurice Keane from Zia Consulting Ltd and Declan Rice CEO of Kilkenny County Leader Partnership explain the plans to leave a lasting structure in place to support all aspects of the River Nore and it’s catchment area under the Nore Vision Project.
Programme 4 - Nore Vision - Oral History Project
Mairead Rohan, Enterprise Officer with Kilkenny Leader Partnership tells us about their role in the Nore Vision Project and Maura Brennan gives us an insight into the Acorn Project and her plan to work with children and teach them about the heritage and living landscape of the woodlands of the Nore.
Programme 5 - Nore Vision - Litter
Harry Everard, Rural Recreation Officer with Kilkenny Leader Partnership and Patrick Lydon and Pat Boyd all involved in the Nore Vision Project share their love, experiences and aims for the River Nore.
Programme 6 - Nore Vision - The Uplands and Farming
In the 6th programme in the Nore Vision radio series we visit the uplands of the River Nore, talk about the farm walks organised by Nore Vision, discuss farm ecology and explore the role of the farmer and farm policy in improving the water quality of the River Nore. It features Michael Costigan from Clonakenny, Bredan McSorley, Field Officer for the Farm Walks and Mags Morrissey Ecologist on the Farm Walks and Denis Drennan Chair of the Farm and Rural Affairs Committee of the ICMSA.
Programme 7 - Nore Vision - Amenities on the River
The River Nore provides a great space for outdoors activities and in this programme we feature some of the people who swim, fish, walk and boat on the river. Featuring Denis Drennan, Paddy Dunne, Tommy Hoyne, Aidan Brennan, Donnachadh Brennan and the Thomastown Paddlers, Cliff Reid boattrips.ie and finally Maura Brennan of the Acorn Project who is involved in educating young people about their environment.
Programme 8 - Nore Vision - Industry
In Programme 8 we explore how industry has moulded itself around the geological landscape of the River Nore in the form of mining, milling, brewing and more. This programme features Taly Williams hydrogeologist with the Geological Survey of Ireland, Rick McGrath engineer, Brett's Sawmills Kilkenny, Paddy Neary historian and Lisa Maher from the EPA.
Programme 9 - Nore Vision - The Future
