New hut for Mullingar Tidy Towns

Tidy Towns granted funding for ‘Fishing for All Mullingar

Mullingar Tidy Towns have purchased a new hut from Faulkner Sheds, who kindly sponsored a portion of the cost.

They are interested supporting any Tidy Towns committees in purchasing huts. The new Mullingar hut is located at the Delvin Road public car park, and it will enable Mullingar Tidy Towns to carry out work in that part of the town.

Mullingar Tidy Towns has been granted funding to the tune of €3,830 for its project ‘Fishing for All Mullingar’.

It was the only project in Westmeath to be granted funding through Inland Fisheries Ireland supported by the Dormant Account Fund in 2020.

Applications were welcomed from any group in Ireland that is engaged in developing novice angling, for expenditure on projects and to support with governance, education and safety. The money will be used to invest in PPE, angling equipment, governance and safety training, fish stocking and shelters, with a view to increase the numbers of novice anglers.

A total of 35 ‘Angling for All’ projects have been granted funding to the tune of €140,000 to support initiatives from groups in Ireland that are engaged in novice angling.

Suzanne Campion, head of Business Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland, said the ‘Angling for All’ fund has been oversubscribed, reflecting the interest there is in angling countrywide.

“This financial investment of €140,000 will support the angling community directly to help make angling an accessible sport to novice angler of all backgrounds and abilities.

“The fund seeks to break down proven barriers to entering the sport and aims to improve governance, education and safety within angling stakeholder organisations”.

For a full list of projects and initiatives receiving funding, visit fisheriesireland.ie/afa/

Bill Collentine, chairperson of Mullingar Tidy Towns, said: “We at Mullingar Tidy Towns are delighted to announce that we will be providing young people in the area with the opportunity to learn the basics of fishing in the waterways of our town in 2021.

“This is exciting news for Mullingar. The opportunity to be able to provide this has come about through funding from Inland Fisheries Ireland ‘Angling for all funding scheme 2020’.

“The funding gives us the opportunity to purchase all the equipment needed to provide this. With the funding we will be purchasing new fishing rods, all fishing essentials, life jackets and a new hut.

“We at Mullingar Tidy Towns worked alongside local fishermen Mick Flanagan and Andy Boyle; Basil Mannion, Community Waters officer for Westmeath; and Dermot Broughan from Inland Fisheries, who helped in planning this opportunity. Mullingar is also fortunate to have many experienced fishermen who are willing to help.

“The plan will be to offer six-week slots when groups of up to 10 at a time will learn the basics of fishing. This will be open to girls and boys."

Further information will be announced in early 2021.

“We at Mullingar Tidy Towns would like to thank Inland Fisheries Ireland for allowing us this funding for this new venture in Mullingar.”