Save Fermoy Weir

I support it!

this souldnt be happening to a town

Save Fermoy weir!

I support it . Repair it . Don t destroy it

The weir is one of fermoy many attractions to us living here as well as the many visitors we get the amout of people that stop and spend time enoyin the view and watchin the salmon jumping, why take away sometime that can be repaired……

Lets all hope common sense prevails and a great club isn’t washed away down stream.

Don’t let them destroy part of Fermoy’s heritage and beauty

This should be repaired and preserved.

The weir is an important part of Fermoy, including a multitude of water sports and fishing. I am 100% in support of saving it.

It would be such a waste to destroy not only a beautiful piece of water, but the home of one of the most fun rowing regattas, and the body of water that spawed Gags – multiple olympian and winner of god only knows international medals.
Let’s save this weir.

This present proposal to destroy the weir in Fermoy is the most ludicrous thing that I have heard in a long while.
The Blackwater is famous all over the world as a Salmon fishing river and the weir in Fermoy is on the itinerary of countless foreign tour companies. Why do people think that a structure which was put in place to protect fish and fish supplies ( by people who obviously knew what they were doing, since the Blackwater continues to enjoy its place among the elite fishing rivers of the world) should suddenly be a bad habitat.
I think that Ireland, as usual, is jumping to conclusions on an EU directive by adding 2+2 and getting 6. Instead of assuming that a certain directive must mean all weirs etc must be abolished can the relevant Government department , for a change, start thinking and see if there is any way we might improve the habitat for salmon (as this is a famous Salmon river) without doing anything to damage the weir in Fermoy, but rather repair this most beautiful structure and possibly add to it.
Once the damage is done there is no point in anyone coming along to the people of Fermoy and saying “sorry , we made a mistake”.

Use commonsense here Minister.

Seems a bit odd to be destroying the picture card image of the town..Should be kept for sure!

Listen to the people and do what’s right for everyone. SAVE THE WEIR

Getting rid of the weir will destroy what the local people of Fermoy and Fermoy Rowing Club have been building on for the last 125 years.

Save the Weir, save the Boat club!

It will be a disgrace if they get rid of the weir and destroy rowing in fermoy, SAVE THE WEIR…..!

Save the weir, the rowing club and a great facility for children and adults in the town.

Destroying the weir is such a ludicrous proposal, but does not surprise me in the least. Try thinking about the future and the whole picture for a change and save the weir

Fermoy Regatta is one of the highlights of the national rowing calender, especially for juniors and is the best course for spectators. Any change would be felt in all munster clubs and further afield.
Athlunkard Boat Club, Limerick.

ya lets knock fermoys finest feature !!!! what are they thinking !! this has to be stoped

repair it, dont knock it,SAVE THE WEIR

repair the weir and allow fermoy rowing club to continue to provide a valuable amenity to the people of fermoy and the irish rowing fraternity.
the work done in fermoy rowing club down through the years deserves to be supported by local government not put in jeorpardy.
fermoy rowng club has supported many athletes down through their history, producing numerous national champions, international champions and olympians, its a disgrace that the future of the club could be placed under such a threat and i fully support fermoy rc in its petiton to stop the destruction of their waterway.
good luck fermoy rowing club.

Repair it, don’t knock it

This is a terrible idea.
Save the weir, the rowing club and the regatta!

repair the weir save the salmon leave something for our youth save fermoy rowing club

save the weir

Keep the weir, the club and a great regatta.

Save the Weir. Do not destroy a great rowing tradition…

Save the weir and save the rowing club.

Save the Weir

Fermoy won’t be the same without the rowing club! Don’t destroy the Weir!

Save the Weir

Save the most enjoyable regatta in the country on a beautiful stretch of water. This club has fostered the youth of the town for generations. Do not destroy it.

Do the right thing repair the weir and allow Fermoy Rowing Club to continue to provide a valuable amenity to the people of Fermoy.
Fermoy Rowing Club deserves to be supported by local government.
It has supported and produced many athletes producing many National and International Champions and and Irish Olympians. Its a complete disgrace that the future of this Club could be threatened in such a way rather than be supported and thanked for the huge amount of work put in and the vounteers acknowledged and pride it brings to the community in Fermoy and Cork.

We should protect the natural amenities in this country for young and old alike. 100% support saving the weir.

save the weir and fermoy rowing club

The Weir is a feature of Fermoy do not destroy it .
Look at the problems that were created in Kilkenny with the reconstructed Weir . Listen to the people

as a canoeist, fisherman and father I strongly support this campaign to save the weir, and as suggested develop the weir rather than destroy it and regret the decision for generations. pLEASE LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE

I would just juke to echo the thoughts of Ricky Hogan and all those here.

Save the weir

Save the Weir

Save the weir

Fermoy weir is a fantastic Amenity for Kayakers and should not be removed.
Kayakers from UCC have often made the trip from Cork to Kayak on the blackwater and the weir in Fermoy has been one of the main attractions providing an excellent training ground for both Whitewater and Freestyle Kayakers.
If the the required result can be met with reparations rather than removal, removal which clearly upsets numerous groups, these reparations should surely be the priority action.

Please do not destroy one of the best stretches of water in the country for spectators and competitors alike.
SAVE THE WEIR

SAVE OUR RIVER WE LIKE IT THE WAY IT IS

This is the same government agency that overspent to the tune of 50 million euro on the reconstruction of weir in Kilkenny. Their track record suggests that they will not get Fermoy weir right. The new weir installed outside Shannon R.C has made winter rowing impossible and dangerous for kids. We now try to train at O’Brien’s bridge each weekend as a result.

Well done to my old club Fermoy R.C and the people of Fermoy (including the fisherman) who are defending their town from this stupidity. Get this minister to put in a cheaper practical solution and put the savings back into areas where the funding is really needed.

Save the weir

I spent my youth on the river and I enjoyed every minute of it. Nothing should prevent others from extracting from the river the same pleasure that I did.

Please do not rip the heart out of the town and distroy a vibrant and historic rowing community by an act of civic vandalism.

-Mike McCrohan, Tribesmen, Galway

Don’t destroy the weir. Im not even a junior yet so if this weir gets destroyed i’ll never be able to paddle it! 😦

Don’t let them destroy the weir.

Save the weir!!!

I just can see the point in destorying the weir, they were put in to serve a function. And of great benefit to Kayak’s, rower’s and fisher men.
And by taking it out the river in that section will return to near its origional flow and gradent. It 350,000 euro now, but what will be the future costs to the surounding and down stream area, these are unknown.

Save the weir

Get Gags down there and chain him to the weir.No surrender

Save the weir and keep one of the most beautiful stretches of river in the country. What kind of people would destroy that priceless amenity for the town.

what the hell!! u cannot simply take a weir away when there is a rowing club that will suffer!!!!

Don’t destroy the weir!

Come on and use some commen snece. Repair a functioning weir and keep this fantistic local amenitie that is used by so many outdoor enthusiasts

Save the weir, it’s part of Fermoy, its part of the regatta, it’s part of the boat club!

Save the Weir

Repair don’t destroy and thus destroy all current recreation depending on that weir.

Save the weir, many happy days spent racing on that stretch of water

save the weir

Save the Weir. Always loved racing in Fermoy. Would be a huge loss to the town.

save the wier

DONT DESTROY FERMOY!!!!!
as a rower, i have a sense of pride in the club which trained me into the person i am today,as rowing has-in my opinion-a much greater effect on a persons personality than most other sports,and i think mabye there are a few out there that share my views.
to me it seems almost inhuman that such a good thing that never hurt anyone should be taken away,like taking away that one good influence in peoples lives because it suits them is just ridiculous. people in the club may also have dreams of achieving great things for their country.and where does the leaders of that country leave those would-be sporting heroes??
high and dry.
nice work lads,mabye well still win a prize for best fish stocks,…..but hang on….. arent most irish rivers polluted anyway???
one thing at a time lads

The fact that the demolition of the weir and the constuction of this proposed monstrosity is being bundled in with the flood plan and is not included in the costings for contract is very interesting.

The Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee might be interested in this looseness with Government tenders.

save the weir don’t destroy it !!

I support Fermoy Weir, repair it, don’t destroy it!

Save the weir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For once listen to what the people of Fermoy and the surrounding area’s are saying, this is a fantastic ammenity for everyone, young and old.
Please don’t destroy something that can be easily repaired.

I find it difficult to believe that improvements cannot be made to the Fermoy Wier without significant changes in the water level.

The wier is the most beautiful part of the town of Fermoy, any proposed change demands that foremost consideration be given to the:
1) Environment;
2) Aesthics; and most importantly,
3) Wishes of the local people.

The wishes of the local people are to be found here, on this website.

I support it . Repair it . Don t destroy it

save the weir

Save the weir and Fermoy RC with it. The Blackwater is still a fantastic fishing river. Why does the rowing club have to be sacrificed to ‘improve it’? the Blackwater river in Fermoy is the best urban rowing venue in the country. Save it.

Save the weir

save the weir

Save the Weir. The river as it is, IS Fermoy’s greatest amenity. Used and enjoyed every day by the rowing club, the triathlon club the open water swimmers, stroller’s on the bank who have a ‘river’ to see at the moment. Dont turn it into a stream. SAVE THE WEIR.

I support Fermoy Weir, repair it, don’t destroy it!

Save the weir. Fermoy rowing club has given so much to Irish rowing and to the town and surrounding towns of North Cork, to loose this amenity would be a sin, save the weir

please save the weir

Save the weir

Save the weir and protect the towns heritage.

Don’t destroy a towns treasured amenity, restore it, because if you destroy it, you destroy it for ever!!

No enlightened country would attempt to remove an important land mark that gives character and beauty to the town and sports facilities for it’s citizens. To remove the weir would be an act of vandalism.

Save the Wier

I did not pay much attention to a recent newspaper photo of a group protesting but on Saturday 29/11/08 I happened to be in Fermoy and saw the protest signs and made enquiries.This is luicrous stuff. Go look at the weir( in the centre of the Town almost ! ) and watch the wildlife and ‘feel’ the tranquility. What about river users? What about the legendary rowing club and that guy Towey who made 4 , yes 4 Olympics. A green minister in office? Unbelieveable. What was that saying about power corrupting and absolute power corrupting absolutely? Certainly seek alternative solutions to the flooding problem but PLEASE use your head minister and council officials.

Save the Weir!

Save the Weir!

Our collective heritage is something we chould hold in trust for future generations. Save the Weir!

Save the Weir

If there is even the slightest doubt that demolishing the weir will affect the Rowing Club then this project should be stopped immeadiatly.

Alternatives have been out forward and these should be acted upon.

Save the Weir

Thanks to everybody for their support to date.
We are fighting this battle on a legal, engineering and political front. Any HELP is welcomed.
We now have two premises in the town dedicated to Saving The Weir and we will man them every Saturday till common sence provails.
Please protest to your local politicians. Remember the EU and local council elections are this June.

We are planning a major protest in the town on Saturday 13th December of ALL clubs, both rowing, water based and land.
Gearoid Towey, Olympian, is coming from London to lead the parade at 3pm.
We want to get ALL types of boats on the river.
Some rowing clubs are planning a training session in Cork and Fermoy that morning. How about your club? Bring your banners, flags and drums and your trailers. Spread the word to all your friends and colleagues.

Our protest has united the town and made our club a lot stronger. “We have not gone away”

Log in daily and check for our daily up dates.

Hi Paul,

I have put an updated video of FRC up on YouTube at

To tell anyone about it, say “Go into YouTube and search for ‘Fermoy
Rowing’ or ‘Blackwater Rowing’, or ‘Gearoid Towey’ or ‘Fermoy Weir'”

Donal O’Loughlinn

When we we learn not to continue with this destruction.Listen to the locals.Are the same mistakes as Kilkenny going to be repeated?

Fermoy must be one of the most beautiful places in the country for rowing, Please don’t destroy it.

Save the weir !

To not to be able to row, swim, Fish, canoe, windsurf, is denying many people of many of life’s simple outdoor pleasures.

In an island as small as Ireland, places like the Blackwater stretch, are few & far between. The fact that this beautiful resource is situated in the centre of the town is something Fermoy people have warmed too & been proud of for generations.
Granted the floods have always been a battle, but as can been seen by some of the names who have signed this petition, they are the people affected by floods year after year, yet they have signed this petition to save the weir. If repairs can be done to save the weir I am sure people of Fermoy would be happy as their hardships would not have been overlooked as the cause is more than justified.

It doesn’t make sense to destroy this renowned landmark from both an aesthetic and practical point of view. Take the “bigger picture” into consideration.

Save the Weir!

I support it!!

Save the weir, don’t destroy the most beautiful part of the town.

the river is a very important part of fermoy. getting rid of the weir is a terrible idea! its essential that everything is done to save it!!

I love coming home to Fermoy and its beautiful river. The weir and the river are the saving grace of the town……… Long live the weir!

How could we consider destroying something so many people treasure , love and enjoy. REPAIR THE WEIR AND CONTINUE TO ENJOY IT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME

Save the weir

The work will be carried out on an Office of Public Works contract. Sean Sherlock TD asked Minister of State Martin Mansergh TD (who has responsibilty for the OPW) about this two weeks ago and he wasn’t aware of this at all.

Our allegedly civil alleged servants seem to be running the show.

Martin Mansergh’s number is 01 6619750 and his e-mail is martin.mansergh@oireachtas.ie.

This is a poorly thought out answer to a very simple problem. This government has neglected our towns and communities for too long! A well thought out solution with public consultation and community involvement is whats needed.

I fully believe it is a huge mistake to remove the weir and its repair wil be far more benificial to the town and wider community ….

Protect Fermoy weir and the established
environment.
Its a respected amenity used by many, including oars-people from far and wide.

Don’t demolish Fermoy Weir. Any cost benefit analysis should always include social benefits [i.e. public use of an amenity] in the calculations. In this case it is not apparent that all options were even investigated to even get the best financial solution. Is this a case that the mandarins in the civil service have a budget for this and if they don’t spend it they won’t get it again?? Well done on the campaign. Let’s see some sense in how public money is spent.

Destruction of the weir at Fermoy will result in the elimination of an amenity that has benefited the towns people for many generations. It’s removal will have reprocussions for fishermen, swimmers and rowers alike. It will also effect the river level in the vicinity and during dry weather spells create an unsightly potentially dried river bed. The act of destroying this amenity defies logic when it’s benefits have enhanced Fermoy for so long. I would like to see the Environmental Impact Statement that promotes such a dramatic action, that is assuming such a document exists.

I support Fermoy Weir, repair it, don’t destroy it!

I can’t belive anyone in the town of Fermoy would say anything other than ‘save the weir’. It is such a beautiful feature to have in our town.

The beauty and serenity it gives the people of Fermoy can never be replaced. Please don’t take it away from us.

I support Fermoy Weir, repair it, don’t destroy it!

As somebody who spent most of my teenage years on the blackwater, it seems unbelievable that this situation is even possible. Can’t be there myself to protest but urge anybody with the possibility, to do so. Save fermoy weir, save the rowing club.

save the weir

Fermoy brings many a fond memory for countless numbers of people from all over the country. lets hope the Weir is saved and kids who have yet to pick up an oar can have the same memories.

That Weir is not just a lump of concrete!!
The rowing club has left me with great memories. Ones that will always be cherished.
It would be devastating if the club had to close just because some people feel that bulldozing a “bit of concrete” would solve the fisheries issue. That just seems like bog standard engineering. Im glad to see that the guys at Fermoy RC had the insight to propose a modern solution that suits all parties. Keep up the good work lads.

Our friend Sean Sherlock TD gave a sterling performance in the Dail last night.

As usual he asked the questions the Government doesn’t want asked, let alone answered. He also named names when he pointed out that this seems to be all coming from the Southern Regional Fisheries Board (CEO Brian “I’ll send in the bulldozers” Sheerin).

The transcript should be up by the morning and when it is I’ll give you the link.

In the meantime, to give you a summary, Sean asked why the weir is being demolished and replaced and Minister Mary Wallace TD read back a prepared answer which I will bet you all the money in my pockets against all the money in your pockets was written by Deirdre DeBruin of the Department.

I know her style and I know her language. It was the exact same guff that Paul and Johnny and Barry and Pa and I sat through two weeks ago in the Grand until we reached what I call the Popeye point.

Remember Popeye? “That’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more.” (And then we were accused of staging a walk-out. The only staging was our collective decision to listen to 45 minutes of waffle before we nearly lost the will to go on living.)

Same old nonsense in the Dail. Pontoon slips, (Phase II, which will probably never happen, and wouldn’t work anyway as they’d shrink the course width even further,) dredge the Strand (in the same breath as “conservation area of special protection”) and best of all cut back the branches of the trees, if the owners allow it.

Sean is doing good work in keeping this on the Dail agenda and we all need to keep it going now.

Big protest Saturday week in Fermoy but also please write to the papers and try to contact the radio shows as well. Go to your TD’s clinic and voice your opinion.

Listening to the prepared answer to Sean’s questions tonight reminded me that they haven’t listened or heard yet.

We have to do more.

Over to you.

The Department’s proposal is shortsighted and obviously has not been thought through. There seems to be a solution put forward that will satisfy all parties. The town keeps the weir, salmon slips are added to accomodate the fish/fisherman, the rowing club and the hundreds of kids it services are not deprived of life changing experiences, and the town of Fermoy retains a jewel. I observe from afar and have to wonder what or who is really behind the government’s actions?

I’m not from Fermoy, but have spent much time there; I am also both a keen environmentalist and an outdoors person – I think that if the fish stocks are healthy and the river serves as an amenity for the people of Fermoy (and elsewhere) then the minister should leave well alone. Hands off!

Removing the weir seems like a ridiculously heavy handed and inappropriate approach – surely the fish have been negotiating the weir for many years already? And the rowing club has always been very important to the town – can’t the weir can be repaired in a way that facilitates fish and rowers?

[Mod – please delete previous comment if possible, accidental submission, thanks]

Why rebuild? Why not modify? It would surely be cheaper and in fairness the fish wont give a rats ass!
Idiots wasting money and resources when it been fine for the past 100 years.

Fermoy weir and the functions it provides for the people of Fermoy must be saved.
What planet do these people live on?

Despite Republicans in Fermoy insulting my family who were neutral Quaker millers, by re naming Grubb’s Quay, Ash Quay, and nice picture of it too on this site, I will give some sound advice, knowing probably a lot more than most of the “experts” on this issue.
In the case of Fermoy and Clondulane weirs, the driving force is actually fishing rights jealousy, but you’re not allowed to say that. But Clondulane cant be taken without dealing with Fermoy as well. Solution. Properly repair the adjacent bye pass gate and head race, leading the latter back in immediately, e.g., not through the old mills. That gate should should then be opened October to January, eg, out of fishing season, and then by special arrangement, once a week when necessary, during the summer. This would solve 90% of the fish passage problem, baring perhaps a lamprey eel. Summer time gate opening could be co-ordinated with the rowing interests. For instance in mighn’t be Sunday in Fermoy, but would be in Clondulane. In some low flow Winter periods, the gate could also be mostly closed. By the way, in the case of a rock run type glide, I hope someone will be well insured against the inevitable injuries.

I rowed for 5 years in secondary school and again in university and Fermoy regatta sticks out in my mind as being one of the most enjoyable competitive events in the Irish rowing calender, especially for younger competitors… To loose it would be a disgrace!

Please save Fermoy weir. A few beautiful old buildings have been demolished or modernised badly in recent years taking a lot of the character away from the town. Don’t let anything else be taken away. Go to your TD and make your feelings known.

Please don’t destroy the weir! What a disgraceful lack of regard for the public who use it daily as an amenity. This is an ill thought-out and rash proposal, and one with dire consequences for the people of Fermoy if allowed to proceed. REPAIR THE WEIR!

Demolishing this and other weirs when there is a solution allowing the passage of fish is senseless.

I absolutely support this. We won’t have a sport left within walking distance of Fermoy or anytown in the country if we keep going like this.

I wholly support your effort to reverse this absurd decision. I have very happy memories of competing at Fermoy Regatta (for UCDBC) in the early 1960’s and take vicarious pride in the recent successes of Fermoy RC. What is proposed won’t help the salmon one jot.

Save the weir. Save the rowing.

save our weir>

save the weir – it is a very important asset, especially to Fermoy Rowing Club

Shame on you, both local and central government. Fermoy will never be the same without the weir. It pains me to see the town I grew up in changed so much, it would be unrecognisable.

save the weir and fermoy rowing club

I am in full support of the save Fermoy Weir dont destroy what is an asset to all of us especially the Fermoy Rowing Club which kept so many of us off the street when we were young, destroy the weir you will destroy our town

Sur you cant do dat. I’m in full support of the weir

save the weir its part of fermoy

Beautiful river, fine weir, leave it alone. What do bureaucrats understand about rivers??

Save the Fermoy weir! For the sake of Irish sport!

I’ve spent many years attending events on the river there and i’d hate to see that destroyed for the following generations. Let common sense prevail and repair the weir and let it stand as is. To do anything else is crazy

Save the weir, they will have to leave us something.

Tell the bureaucrats to get their hands off our weir!
Joan Kiernan
Native of Fermoy, now living in Queenstown, New Zealand

Hi all,
Have been following the situation from Wilton, Connecticut and am obviously concerned at the thought of losing our beloved rowing club not to mention our beautiful weir. Kav you made a good point about hearing from our supporters and friends all over the world. If you remember we brought a group from America in 2003 for the Fermoy Regatta and they to this day talk about the Fermoy Rowing club and the beautiful regatta. You will be hearing from them soon with their support of preserving the weir.
Paul

Keep the pressure on, – this should not happen. The heritage of Fermoy should not be swamped in this fashion. The emphasis should be on developing longer stretches of water in areas such as Fermoy.

BOC, Kildare

Save the weir, the salmon and all in Fermoy!

Destroying the weir destroys not only our heritage but the various clubs that are an integral part of our community. In an age where communities are increasingly fractured the removal of the weir will be another nail in the coffin for Fermoy.
Save our Weir

What is the point in solving one poblem and creating alot of others …especially when there are alternatives. This infortunately is symptomatic of much of the sloppy thinking which goes on in our planning systems

A Dubliner, I’ve rowed along this stretch of water many times, at events hosted by Fermoy Rowing Club. Great events- a beautiful stretch of water, great memories!

It’s rare to see a rowing club like this right in the heart of the town – Minister, what about considering the people’s environment?

The removal of Fermoy weir would have an appallingly detrimental effect on Fermoy’s natural beauty. Fermoy Rowing Club should be protected as an integral element of the local community.

Stop this madness!!! Save Fermoy Weir!!!

Phil Noonan
Mainz, Germany.

Paul, Donal, Ken et al,

You are a credit to Fermoy and the rowing club, thanks for taking up the cause on behalf of all of us. Times are hard enough at the moment without taking on all the pressures involved. I for one am very grateful for all your efforts.