News

Burren Winterage School

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The Pearl Mussel Project were delighted to attended the Burren Winterage School events to see agri-environment schemes in the Slieve Aughty mountains (led by Hen Harrier Project) and the Burren (led by Burren Programme) over the last few days, where we met a range of groups engaged in agri-environmental results based payment programmes throughout the country. A great opportunity for us to learn from their experiences.

The Burren Winterage School celebrates the unique farming traditions of the Burren and other ‘high nature value’ farming landscapes across Ireland and Europe, as well as sharing ideas on how these special places and their custodians might best be supported at a time of great challenge. 

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Further information of the BurrenWinterage weekends events at: 
https://www.burrenwinterage.com/

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Pearl Mussel Project Results Based Farm Programme Presentation

The Pearl Mussel Project have developed a presentation with further details of the proposed results based farm programme to help protect freshwater pearl mussel in the top eight catchments in Ireland. 

A PDF of the presentation can be downloaded here

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Freshwater Pearl Mussel Conference - Connemara Green Festival

An interesting series of talks were presented at the Connemara Green Festival last Friday in Letterfrack focusing on the conservation of freshwater pearl mussel in Ireland.

We had lots of interesting feedback on the Pearl Mussel Project given by Derek McLoughlin from PMP and on the wonderful presentations from Marie Louise Heffernan, Bernie Whyte (LAWSAT) and Catherine Seale (LAWCO). Their was a good range of attendees including local farmers, businesses and fisheries owners. Brendan O’Malley of FORUM was an excellent chair for the session. Great to see the positive approach of the Dawros and surrounding catchment communities. Unfortunately due to bad weather and high river levels (good for the mussels... dangerous for humans) the excursion to Dawros River had to be cancelled.

Many thanks to Marie Louise, Janet and Letterfrack Tidy Towns for organising and running the conference which was a great success.

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Catchment survey of Glaskeelan, Co. Donegal

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Staff from the Pearl Mussel Project, including Patrick Crushell and Derek McLoughlin and one of our project advisor, Dr Dolores Byrne from IT Sligo, have been undertaking surveys in the Glaskeelan catchment in Co. Donegal over the last few days to assess catchment and habitat conditions for the conservation of freshwater pearl mussel. Surveys were also undertaken on the pilot farm being established within the catchment to assess farm guidelines proposals. 

Lough Inshagh, shown in the image above, is the source of the Glaskeelan River and is located within the Glenveagh National Park.

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Job Opportunity - Catchment Officers

megaphoneReminder that the closing date for application for the two posts is: 12th October 2018

The Pearl Mussel Project are recruiting two catchment officers with agri-environmental backgrounds: one officer to work the southern (south Kerry and west Cork) area based in the Kerry office, and one officer in the western (Mayo, Galway, Donegal) area based in the Mayo office. The successful applicants will work as key members of the project team and will report to the Project Manager. The role will require the successful candidate to travel between the four catchments in their respective areas on a regular basis, and they will likely spend a high proportion of time out of the office.

Detailed job description, experience required and application details can be downloaded here.  

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© Pearl Mussel Project Ltd 2018