Lough Neagh's Stories

30/07/2024

If you know anybody who truly cares about the future of our great Lough Neagh, make sure they join this important consultation webinar tonight at 7.00pm.

INVITATION to the Lough Neagh Consultation Webinar

As part of the consultation process for the Lough Neagh Resilience Plan, the public is being invited to attend a consultation webinar on Tuesday 30 July at 7.00pm where they will have opportunity to hear from four experts who will speak on landscape acquisition and management; considering the development of a new Lough Neagh heritage resilience plan and the various environmental and conservation challenges surrounding Lough Neagh together with examples of innovative techniques and practices that could help address these current issues.

To register for the webinar please click the link below and follow to the bottom of the page.

https://loughneaghpartnership.org/consultation-webinar/

28/06/2024

See you in Pomeroy Forest Park tomorrow for the second "Taste Mid-Ulster Food Festival"!

Let's kick off the summer in style ... and TASTE!! 😍😊🥙🍰🌹🌻😋

Discover Northern Ireland Tourism Ireland Visit Mid Ulster Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative Society

26/06/2024

The privileges of working Fishermen’s Hours
..The things you miss when you sleep through the early morning!

This morning's magical sky at 03:30.

Discover Northern Ireland Tourism Ireland

29/05/2024

"Féile Loch nEathach"

8th of June 2024 in Ballyronan Marina
6 - 11pm.

We are truly looking forward to this very special Lough Neagh cultural evening, intended to raise awareness of the Lough's present and future, in a thoughtful, dignified way.

It will be a great Saturday night out! There will be an embarrassment of riches of Lough Neagh traditional music talent and it is also intended as a local premiere of a short film, "The Eel Fisher", by very talented local girl, Méabh Ní Dhoibhlin.

Lough Neagh and its eel fishing community were very blessed when Méabh took such a personal interest in them both a couple of years ago; and then decided to use her considerable videographic talents to do something to champion them! We feel very humbled and grateful to have been asked by Méabh to contribute to it along with some of our fishing colleagues.

Tickets are free to book, but are limited due to the capacity in the hall. All voluntary donations on the night will go to LOUGH NEAGH RESCUE.

Hope to see you there! 🤩😊

Visit Mid Ulster Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Tourism Ireland Discover Northern Ireland The Scullery Ballyronan Marina The Lock Keeper's Cottage, Toome. The Crosskeys Inn

05/05/2024

Today was that very special one in the calendar of Lough Neagh fishing families ... the day of the traditional Blessing of the Boats for the new eel fishing season at The Battery Ardboe.

The Lough was still and the weather lovely.🌊☀️⭐️

30/04/2024

It's that time of the year again!..

With only double digit hours left until the start of the age-old Lough Neagh Eel Fishing Season, the last few hours and weeks have been all about the getting ready! And amongst other things, there's no more putting off running any straggly lines you just couldn't face into before now. 🙈😤

It's also that time of the year again when savvy, experienced Lough Neagh fishermen's spouses/partners (and doggies! 🤩) know that you just have to wait it out, ...then corner them when they are running their lines, if you want to make progress on ... ANYTHING ELSE!
😏😊🤪💡


Welcome to the 2024 Lough Neagh Eel fishing season! May it be a safe, healthy and rewarding one for all.🙏

*Big thanks to our very lovely and quick-witted tour guest at the weekend for her cute snap. 🙏🐕🤩

Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative Society


Tourism Ireland Discover Northern Ireland

26/04/2024

: Saturday 4th May 2024

Thanks a lot to all those who supported our "Traád and Toome Bays Afternoon Tea Package" over Easter; and to all who have bought seats for the same on Saturday the 4th of May.

We only have a few seats left, so please email us asap, if you would be interested in joining us. Advance booking is essential.

This package will only be available on a few advertised dates in the year, but is available on-going on request, for groups of between six and twelve people. So, get your own group organised and then just drop us an email, if this is something you'd like to do with your own friends. 😊

Our email address is: [email protected] (*Note the two 's' in the middle!)

Looking forward to welcoming our next afternoon tea-ers on board in with The Scullery. 🙌🌊🛥🫖☕️🍰

Visit Mid Ulster Ballyronan Marina Discover Northern Ireland Tourism Ireland Lough Neagh Tours

18/04/2024

Chuffed to get this mention on !

Our tours are all about the natural and cultural heritage of our area.

Thanks folks!

From delicious experiences to cultural walks, there are plenty of tours you can take throughout Northern Ireland that are sure to broaden your horizons.

30/03/2024

🥳Toome Fair 2024🥳

Are you all set for the biggest day of the year?

That day that every child who lives within a twenty mile radius of Toomebridge village waits on all year!!!!!!!!!!! 🥳🙆‍♂️🙆‍♀️🙃😀
..Toome Fair on Easter Monday! One of Ireland's oldest fairs! 🎢🎠🍭🍿🎤🐴🐎

You Eighties Kids, do you remember the yearlong labour of love saving up your 2ps for the 2p machines at the Fair? 🤩🥰 And the excitement when you were finally allowed to break into.that piggy bank?!!!! 😍😍🥰🤩🤩

Together with all the old favourites, the Fair will boast an Artisan Market this year at Duneane Community Garden. We'll be selling our Lough Neagh Dollaghan Dogs and Wraps at it.🌊🐟🌮😋 Please stop by and say hello.

The Lock Keeper's Cottage, Toome. Tidal Toome

29/03/2024

Have you decided yet what you are doing on Easter Tuesday ? If not, why not book our Traád and Toome Bays Afternoon Tea Package? 😉

24/03/2024

Easter 2024 🎉🥚🐣

Beginning to sort your plans for Easter or indeed the May Bank Holiday weekends ?

We'll be releasing details of a few events over the next few days and weeks, so keep following!

First up...

Might you be interested in our Traád and Toome Bays Afternoon Tea Package with The Scullery Ballyronan? 🌊🛥🫖☕️🍰

Just email [email protected] if you would like to make an enquiry or a booking. 😊 (*Note the two 's' in the middle!)


Visit Mid Ulster Lough Neagh Tours Discover Northern Ireland Tourism Ireland

23/03/2024

"Taste Mid-Ulster Heritage Food and Craft Festival" in "The Moy"! 😊

BIG thanks to the ever hard working tourism team at Visit Mid Ulster for their efforts in organising the inaugural "Taste Mid-Ulster Heritage Food and Craft Festival" at the start of this month. 👏👏👏

Moy village looked and sounded fantastic! There was a notable community feel; brilliant music; and both vendors and customers enjoyed themselves. 😋🎨🕺💃🍰

Just as we knew would be the case with people who live so close to the Loughshore, our cooked Lough Neagh fish products were so well supported. Thank you all. 🙏💙🐟🌊

In particular, thank you to those who wistfully reminisced with us about those simpler (but less regulated!) times of yesteryear, when Lough Neagh fishermen weekly sold our great Pollan and Dollaghan door to door. And to the older gentleman who ate his Dollaghan Dog, then called back to tell us, "It was worth coming for that alone." ...That is priceless to us.✨️

A further unexpected, terrific highlight of the second day, was when the inspirational Delourme, chef for twenty-five years to none other than Stein, dropped by, as he researched his "Celtic Connections". We really liked Stephane, and suffice to say, he really liked our beautiful Lough Neagh fish! ...Watch this space! 🤩

Along with local Michelin star chef, F Owens, we did a good job of reminding people of the luxury super health foods to be found on their doorstep! 🎖👊

See YOU at the next "Taste Mid-Ulster Heritage Food and Craft Festival"?...

But if you would like the opportunity to tuck into one of our Dollaghan Dogs or Dollaghan Wraps quicker than that, we'll be cooking and selling them for the first time at our very own on Easter Monday 2024. 🤩



Tourism Ireland Discover Northern Ireland Lough Neagh Tours Visit Mid Ulster Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Tidal Toome The Lock Keeper's Cottage, Toome. Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative Society

22/03/2024

To honour World Poetry Day this week, a few lines from "Cinderella Pollan: To You, An Ode".

This little bit of verse was penned to celebrate our beautiful, miraculous Lough Neagh Pollan scooping the first prestigious Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) food status award for the north of the island in 2018.

Cinderella Pollan: To You, An Ode
..

You, littler,
Bella Cinderella.
..You, they knew from Ash Wednesday,
And Lenten fasting and alms.
So you, they so needed – and no qualms!

One of our wonders,
Neglected.
By none other,
Than blind blunder!
..you’ll be buoyed
Almost ashore,
In glorious, glittery, gatherings galore,
Sunning yourself on the sandy clay
Of beaches in ...
And in the bay....

(Anne-Marie McStocker)

Just as with every mighty and every miniscule feature of nature, Lough Neagh has the power to inspire and unleash much poetry! 🌊📒💡🤩😍

We're all able to write poetry. Just start with a few words about what's around you and how you feel about it.✍️😊

Or come join us on one of our literary tours if you'd like help to channel your ideas.

17/03/2024

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hope you've all celebrated this little island of ours heartily. 🍀💚☘️

A throwback for the day that's in it!

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly two and a half years since we filmed this feature for Amazon Prime Video. It then aired on Amazon Prime on St. Patrick's Day 2022!

We loved it when Amazon Prime drinks journalist, Smith, recognised in a promotional clip, just how exceptional a food product our Lough Neagh eel is: "The Lough Neagh eels are basically the caviar of Ireland!" 💛

https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Three-Drinkers-in-Ireland/dp/B09PQ6LPV8

The Three Drinkers in Ireland is an aspirational, gastronomic journey through the picturesque island of Ireland. Join drinks experts Aidy Smith and Helena Nicklin with special guests Beth Brickenden and Eulanda Shead Osagiede as they indulge in an Irish feast for the senses, tasting lots of deliciou...

08/03/2024

Your destination for this weekend?...

Moy Village, Co. Tyrone!! For their first ever Taste Mid-Ulster Food and Craft Heritage Event. 💗

We'll be there with our delicious Lough Neagh Dollaghan Dogs and Wraps. 🌊🐟😋

Saturday 9th March 2024: 11am - 7pm
Sunday 10th March 2024: 1pm - 5pm.


Visit Mid Ulster Lough Neagh Tours Discover Northern Ireland Tourism Ireland Lough Neagh Artisans

05/03/2024

Hey all.

Hope you are all well and that you have 'overwintered' well.

We have been working very hard on many Lough Neagh matters and projects in the interim. And beautiful bright skies and stretching days are very visible indicators that spring has arrived. ☁️🐑🌱

And so we are very pleased with the timing of last night's reflective and thought-provoking "Nationwide" on , which was dedicated to our treasured Lough Neagh. (The iplayer link is below.)

Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh was both great craic and made us feel instantly at ease. Angela (Ryan) and Brian (McVeigh) - producer/director and cameraman - were so obliging and down-to-earth. Thank you all sincerely, folks. 🙏 You're welcome any time! And we'll look forward to more future "Nationwide" broadcasts from our area, so rich in its cultural heritage. 😉

It's truly a privilege to have been able to promote our fishing and literary heritage; and our special local places, like this. Toome Canal Walk, our Lough Neagh eel fishery, Ballyronan, Cranfield, Creggan and The Battery all feature. 💙💒🌊

We were delighted, too, that so many of our fishing colleagues also took part in the broadcast. Looking and sounding great, guys! 🤩
..And last, but by no means least, thank you, Uncle Charlie, for the beautiful winter filming weather. 💫💛🙏

RTÉ One Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative Society Lough Neagh Tours Lough Neagh Artisans Lough Neagh Partnership Tourism Ireland Discover Northern Ireland Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Visit Mid Ulster Creggan Local Heritage Group Emma Heatherington Writer Lough Shore Marina Centre The Lock Keeper's Cottage, Toome.

An eclectic round-up of news, views and events from around the country each week.