Public meeting to discuss the future of Tipperary lake

A public meeting will be held in Lorrha in north Tipperary next week after local community group SCEAL (Social Community Enterprise for the Advancement of Lorrha/Rathcabbin) received a €10,000 grant to develop a biodiversity plan for the rejuvenation of the historic Friar's Lough.

It's among 78 new community plans being supported by a joint Biodiversity Fund, an initiative by Community Foundation Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Funding will support a community-led project to enhance the biodiversity of the “historically significant area of Friar's Lough”.

Following the announcement, SCEAL are hosting a public event at St Ruadhán's Hall in Lorrha on Wednesday, March 20 at 8pm to discuss the next steps that need to be taken to make the most of the funding announcement.

Friar's Lough is a small lake that receives waters from hundreds of acres of the surrounding area. Although the wetlands and surrounding land was once noted for its rich biodiversity, locals have noticed dramatic changes over the last 30 years. Improvements in practices by one landowner has seen some rejuvenation of an ancient oakland habitat. However, there have been threats related to the use of this area as a recreational amenity.

Four dry stock farmers, who share ownership of the lake and surrounding area, are keen to assess, with the support and engagement of the wider community, the biodiversity of the lake and surrounding landscape to create awareness and develop an action plan for land use practices. They also want to explore the potential of a public access route to protect and enhance the habitats and species within.

Announcing the grants, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, said:

“These grants are uniquely impactful because they connect community groups with scientific expertise, helping them to better understand their local biodiversity. Successful grantees work with ecologists to create a Community Biodiversity Action Plan and can then seek funding to implement it. All of the data they collect is shared with the National Biodiversity Data Centre, making a valuable contribution to citizen science in Ireland”.

Established in 2016 in response to the closure of the last shop in the village, SCEAL  has evolved over the last eight years to manage a seven-day per week community shop in St Ruadhán’s Hall, and to promote the cultural and historical background of the parish.