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Crumlin River - Background PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 09 August 2007

There are not many fishing clubs on the island of Ireland that can boast, if that is the right word, an International Airport as a very close neighbour.  But that is exactly the case for the Crumlin & District Angling Association whose small river lies within a good walking distance of Belfast International Airport - located some 12 miles to the North of Belfast.  

The Crumlin River, flowing into the east of Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles, takes its name from the village of Crumlin, Co. Antrim.  The River’s source lies mainly in the hills of the Divis Mountain and, throughout its journey through the foothills to the Lough, is probably not more than 13 miles in length.  In many respects, it is typical of hundreds of small rivers throughout the Island holding a good stock of native brown trout in small pools and stretches of fast streams.  But, as one of a number of tributaries in the Lough Neagh system, the Crumlin River lays claim to being that ‘little bit special’ in that it has an annual run of Lough Neagh’s wild brown trout known locally as ‘dollaghan’, famous for their ‘fighting’ qualities from an angler’s viewpoint.

Full Flood at Mairs Weir
Full Flood at Mairs Weir
For the past 250 years or so, dollaghan as well as salmon, were prevented from fulfilling their natural spawning instincts of accessing their former spawning habitats in the upper reaches of the Crumlin River.  The priority of developing the emerging textile, linen and other local industries in Ulster at the turn of the 18th century, took precedence over most other needs on local rivers, where water was harnessed to produce the power for newly constructed mills.  Weirs and dams were built on many rivers to facilitate these activities – without any regard to the needs of migratory fish that had utilized the rivers since time immemorial. In the case of the Crumlin River, two large weirs had been constructed – one upstream and one downstream of Crumlin village which lies about one mile from the shores of Lough Neagh.  However, with the onset of new power sources, and the decline of the Ulster textile and linen industries, in particular, throughout the 20th century, many of the weirs on local rivers (including the Crumlin) became redundant and now stand only as testimony to a bygone industrial era. 

Fortunately, within communities, there are always individuals with vision and foresight who not only accomplish much for their own localities, but who also have a perspective of the greater potential that some areas can offer for the benefit wider communities.  One such person in the Crumlin Village area was the late Jack Lamb, a lover of nature and committed environmentalist - even before that word became popularly known.  As the Chairman of the Crumlin &District Angling Association, it was always Jack’s vision that some day dollaghan and salmon would be able, once again, to travel the Crumlin River’s entire system of some 12 miles above Crumlin Village and avail of the wonderful spawning habitat that it offered.

For many years, Jack Lamb and his friend, the late Newel Mc Creight, pressed the case to those in authority who were willing (and sometimes unwilling) to listen to their pleas for funding towards the construction of fish passes at the two weirs at Crumlin Village.  Those representations finally were successful in 2005/2006 when substantial funding was secured from the European Union, under a ‘Programme for Peace and Reconciliation’, for the building of the two fish passes.  Vitally, the two projects were fully supported by both by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Antrim Borough Council.

Under Construction at Mairs Weir
Under Construction at Mairs Weir
Throughout 2005 and 2006, much time and entirely voluntary effort, was expended by the Committee members in overseeing and overcoming the many problems that arose, before, during, and after the construction of the fish passes. But, finally, both projects were completed early in the summer of 2006.  The outcome?  There have been numbers of sightings of dollaghan and salmon in the stretches of the river above Crumlin Village – thus confirming that the fish passes are operating successfully.

 

Completed Fish Pass at Crumlin Glen
Completed Fish Pass at Crumlin Glen
But this small fishing Association is not content to rest on its laurels.  Plans are already afoot to carry out some minor adjustments to the ‘head’ of one of the passes so as to provide migrating fish with even greater access to the river above. An ambitious programme of re-stocking is also planned over the next four years.  New and improved stiles are also planned for the riverbank.  Facilities for disabled anglers already exist at Crumlin Glen close to the village.

As we all know, life can be cruel at times and sadly, Jack Lamb and Newell Mc Creight did not live long enough to see their dreams come true.  But, thankfully, the work started by these two community-spirited individuals will live long beyond them and will benefit the generations that will follow. 

Last Updated ( Thursday, 09 August 2007 )
 
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