New plan to improve Kilkenny water quality is launched in Thomastown

The Nore Catchment Better Farming for Water Action Plan was officially launched last Thursday in Thomastown, by Teagasc Director, Professor Frank O’Mara.

The establishment of specific catchment-based campaigns is a key initiative under the Better Farming for Water Campaign, which aims to support and accelerate the adoption of on-farm actions to improve water quality in water bodies where agriculture is a significant pressure.

TAP HERE FOR MORE WHAT'S ON IN KILKENNY

The River Nore is one of eight priority catchments, alongside the Slaney, Barrow, Boyne, Suir, Blackwater, Lee and Bandon–Ilen, identified by the EPA as a “catchment of concern”. These catchments will have tailored workplans with clear targets and timelines to deliver measurable water quality improvements.

Collectively, these campaigns are central to improving both local and national water quality.

Farmers in the Nore catchment take great pride in the River Nore and the rich agricultural and natural heritage it supports along its approximately 140-kilometre journey through the heart of the southeast.

Shaped by the river and its tributaries, the land has been cultivated and cared for by generations of farming families, many of whom continue to live and work along its banks today.

Originating in the Devil’s Bit Mountain, the River Nore flows through counties Kilkenny, Tipperary, Laois and Waterford, passing through towns such as Durrow, Thomastown and Inistioge, before joining the Barrow and Suir - the ‘Three Sisters’ - to form Waterford Harbour. It is a vital river for Kilkenny City and the wider region.

The Nore Catchment Implementation Group is chaired by Eamonn Sheehan, a dairy farmer in the catchment, with Dawn Meats acting as industry lead, represented by Paul Nolan. The initiative brings together key stakeholders including farmers, Teagasc, agri-food industries, ACA, LAWPRO, local authorities, and the wider community, supported by a dedicated Teagasc Catchment Coordinator. Central to the programme is the implementation of the 8 Actions for Change, focusing on improved nutrient management, farmyard management and land management practices to enhance water quality. Click NEXT to read on...