Nore Catchment Better Farming for Water Action Plan Launched
The Nore Catchment Better Farming for Water Action Plan was officially launched today, Thursday, 22 January, in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny 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.
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 Mountains, 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.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Frank O’Mara said:
“Having good water quality in Ireland is essential to ensuring the long-term success and future growth of Ireland’s agri-food sector. No part of the agricultural industry is unaffected by the consequences of declining water quality, which means every farmer and every sector has a role to play in protecting it.
“The Nore Catchment Better Farming for Water Action Plan demonstrates how collective action can drive real improvements by adopting a multi-actor approach, implementing the 8 Actions for Change, and targeting the right measures in the right place at the right time. I also wish to acknowledge the members of the Nore Catchment Implementation Group Oversight Committee, who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to support the delivery of this plan,” Professor O’Mara added.
Chair of the Nore Catchment Implementation Group, Eamonn Sheehan, said:
“I understand first-hand the day-to-day realities of farming and the deep connection farm families have with their land and water. Farmers are not only food producers but long-term custodians of the countryside, and their commitment to protecting natural resources is central to the sustainability of Irish agriculture.”
Paul Nolan of Dawn Meats added:
“It is encouraging to see this collective, all-of-sector effort – across both public and private partners – coming together to address the challenge of improving water quality. The campaign will build on existing programmes such as the Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP), the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP), and the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP).”
At the launch, a comprehensive booklet was unveiled outlining the six pillars of the Nore Catchment programme. These include stakeholder engagement through a multi-actor approach; raising awareness using detailed water quality maps; structured upskilling programmes for farmers, advisors, teachers, and industry professionals; an impactful knowledge transfer programme; a supporting research programme; and a targeted communications plan.
Watch a video outlining the Nore Catchment Action Plan below
Lead Photo Caption: The Nore Catchment Better Farming for Water Action Plan was officially launched today, Thursday, 22 January, in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny by Teagasc Director, Professor Frank O’Mara. Pictured at the launch are: Ciaran Sheelan, Catchment Coordinator for the Nore Catchment; Jim Bergin, Chairman of the Better Farming for Water Stakeholder Steering Group; Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director; Eamonn Sheehan, Chair of the Nore Catchment Implementation Group; Alana Coyne, Dawn Meats; Paul Nolan, Dawn Meats; and Richard O’Brien, Teagasc Waterford/ Kilkenny Regional Manager.