Love Your River Project’ at Killyleagh Primary School ( Dibney River Conservation Trust ) as part of their effort to further promote the Irish International Fly Fair and river conservation.
Stephen addressed the school assembly and presented the project to each age group P1 to P7 classes. He explained that the main aim of the DRCT is to encourage local children to engage with the fundamental issues of river conservation. “It is also aimed at encouraging them to treat the Dibney river with respect,” said Stephen, “and to raise awareness of the biodiversity on the river. A ‘Love Your River’ art competition has been launched. Highly skilled instructors will lead entertaining and educational workshops at the DRCT ‘River School’ which will be held at the Bridge Centre, Killyleagh.”
[caption id="attachment_25008" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Derrygonnelly Fly fishing instructor Jim Hoy demonstrates his skills to Paul McCardle and Gary McCarthy last year at the International Fly Fishing Fair in Killyleagh Castle."]
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Already Stephen and Billy have introduced the “Love Your River Project” to a number of local Primary Schools . (St Mary’s PS, Killyleagh, Derryboye PS, Derryboy; Cedar Integrated PS, Crossgar; St Joseph’s PS, Crossgar; Glasswater PS, Crossgar; Academy PS, Saintfield; St Mary’s PS, Saintfield; Killinchy PS, Killinchy; and the Holy Family PS, Teconnaught.)
“We the DRCT have engaged with all schools in the Rowallane area,” added Stephen,”We have distributed a grand total of 3,000 copies of the entry templates, 1,000 copies for each category, with workshop information and a registration form outlined on the reverse side together with time, date and venue of the prize-giving.
“I am personally delighted with the warm response we received from all the schools we approached, in fact the reaction over all was very positive with all 10 taking part. We anticipate a very positive response from the children and we propose to collect completed entries from each school on Thursday 23rd–Friday 24th June when we will be presenting a ‘Love your River’ certificate to each participating school”.
The children’s ‘River School’ will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 2pm during the Fly Tying Festival under the direction of APGAI IRL & AAPGAI, with instructor Joe Stitt structuring each day around seven modules, Entomology, River Walk, Fly Tying, Safety, Fly Casting, Angling Skills and Fish Handling.
[caption id="attachment_25009" align="alignright" width="235" caption="Dibney River Conservation Trust members Stephen Kennedy and Billy Watson with Killyleagh Primary School pupils Orin Ferguson, Melissa Cherry, Mark Murray and Emma Killops."]
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“The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) are also supporting the Festival by participating in the River School and they will be bringing along their Bug Tank which contains lots of lovely insects which are common to Northern Ireland. Registration and attendance at River School is free of charge but places are limited and will be issued on a first come first served basis. Register either through the ‘Love your River’ art competition or online at www.irishinternationalflyfair.com/contactus.html
“The ‘Love Your River’ art competition prize-giving will commence at 3pm on Sunday 3rd July in the Great Hall at Killyleagh Castle. The Dibney River Conservation Trust will be awarding three prizes for each age category, plus a few angling goodies, prize-winners will be notified by Friday 1st July 2011. Casting competitions are kindly sponsored by Hardy Greys and will be held in the grounds of the prestigious Killyleagh Castle and are open to everyone.”
www.irishinternationalflyfair.com]]>
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