Meath losing out on tourism attraction
Meath is missing out on a major tourist attraction - as access to the county's shoreline with Lough Sheelin is largely inaccessible.
Local campaigners point out that Lough Sheelin is a world famous brown trout fishery, which attracts anglers from all over the world every year - but the lake's one mile stretch of shoreline with Meath is very difficult to reach.
In a bid to open up the lake from county Meath, local residents and anglers are urging Coillte to open up access through its forestry to Derrysheridan shore.
Derrysheridan Shore was a huge amenity for the area in years gone by with local people flocking there on warm sunny days, as well as anglers using it year round. There is a small jetty on the shoreline.
Local resident, Declan McCabe, who owns Sheelin Boats in County Cavan points out that Lough Sheelin is a huge tourist attraction for Cavan with visitors flocking to it from all over the world to fish. “It is famous for being the best brown trout lake in Europe. Meath has a good stretch of shore on Lough Sheelin, but it is very hard to get access to it. It is a shame, it would be great for the area if we could open up the shoreline.
“Meath is missing out. A recent fishing competition in Cavan attracted 220 anglers with 100 boats. Cavan is famous for Lough Sheelin but nothing is being done in Meath to encourage this tourism.”
Mr McCabe said opening up the Meath side and it would benefit local and visiting anglers, as well as other tourists and the general public.
He pointed out that access to Derrysheridan shore has been limited by Coillte for several years now. “To be fair to Coillte, they have a very well maintained forestry but there is a locked barrier and people cannot access Derrysheridan shore. It was very popular years ago, with both local people and visitors.”
Cllr Peter Caffrey said Derrysheridan Shore was once a very popular access to the lake and there was a jetty on it, but Coillte put a barrier on it around five years ago.
“We had a beautiful summer and it would have been a great amenity for the local community like it was in the past.
“Lough Sheelin is world famous, the lake could be a major tourist attraction for Meath, combined with the Lough Crew Cairns it could draw visitors from all over the world to the Oldcastle area.”
In a recent study the lough, which is only four miles long and one mile wide (4,654 acres), was found to hold over 100,000 fish over eight inches.
At a recent meeting of Kells Municipal Council, Cllr Caffrey asked the Executive to write to Coillte regarding the reopening of access at Derrysheridan Shore “as it is the main access point to the lake from the Meath side. Many local anglers and lake users have raised concerns about the closure, which is preventing access to the lake and the launching of boats for fishing.”
He was told the council would engage with Coillte regarding access.
A spokesperson for Coillte said it manages lands at Ross Forest, County Meath, on the shores of Lough Sheelin and currently facilitates access for anglers through an established permit and key-holder system, with registered anglers holding annual permits that allow access via the Ross barrier.
A spokesperson for Meath County Council said the council had written to Coillte regarding the reopening of access at Derrysheridan Shore as it is the main access point to the lake from the Meath side. The Council is awaiting a response on this matter.