This episode’s guest is Peter Comer, a Teagasc ASSAP Advisor. Peter works with farmers, providing guidance on practices that help to prevent nutrients, sediment, and pesticides from entering local water bodies.
The guest of this episode is Dr. Ken Irvine, Emeritus Professor of Aquatic Ecosystems at the Institute for Water Education in Netherlands, and one of the world's leading experts on lake ecosystems. He has worked on a a range of lakes and catchments across Europe and Africa, including Lough Carra
In this episode, my guests represent the Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark, which includes Lough Carra. Joining me are Micheal Hegarty, the Geopark Manager, and Dr. Benjamin Thébaudeau, the Geopark Geologist.
Guest message to the listeners:
"The JCWL Geopark team would like to highlight the fact that there was a fourth member of staff during the RRDF project years of 2020-2021 with Amrine Dubois-Gafar who was the project geologist based in Dublin and helped the development of many geological resources for the website and the education activities. We also wish to mention that the Operation Management Group (OMG) in our governance also includes a representative of JCWL GeoEnterprise; its chair Trish Walsh. Enjoy the podcast..."
In this episode, the guest is Al McDonnell, a long-serving councillor with Mayo County Council, a businessman, a farmer, and a native of Lough Carra. He is also a dedicated supporter of the Lough Carra Catchment Association.
The guest of this episode is Dr. Fiona White – lecturer at Atlantic Technological University and historian specializing in the history Moore Hall and Moore family.
Moore Hall:
Moore Hall, the house and estate of George Henry Moore and family, is situated to the south of the village Carnacon in the barony of Carra, County Mayo, Ireland in a karst limestone landscape.
Named for the Irish landed gentry family who built the estate between 1792 and 1795, Moore Hall lies on Muckloon Hill overlooking Lough Carra. The house was designed by the Irish architect John Roberts. Several members of the Moore family played major parts in the social, cultural and political history of Ireland from the end of the eighteenth century to the early twentieth century. The house was burned down in 1923 by anti-Treaty IRA during the Irish Civil War as Maurice Moore was viewed as pro-Treaty.
In this episode, my guest is Ann Marie Meaney – Surface Water Officer of The Lough Carra Life Projects, tasked with monitoring the current quality of the water in Lough Carra and the catchment.
ANN MARIE MEANEY BIO:
Ann Marie is a native of County Tipperary, living in Westport, and is an experienced Environmental Scientist, with a strong background in regulatory, enforcement and compliance. She graduated from the University Collage Cork in 2006, with a BSc (Honours) Degree in Environmental Science, and has since built up 15 years experience developing and implementing environmental policies, procedures, and programmes, in compliance with local, state, and corporate environmental laws, regulations, and statues. She has worked for the past number of years as an Environmental Engineer with AbbVie (Allergan) Westport, with previous experience as an EPA Drinking Water Inspector, with the Castlebar Inspectorate.
As Surfacewater Officer Ann Marie will oversee the project monitoring programme, and will bring water quality expertise to the Agri-environment Scheme, Biodiversity and Site Restoration plans, and all other areas of the project.
The guest of this episode is Samirah Blaauw, a PHD candidate at SETU, studying genetic diversity of Otter, and at Lough Carra, as part of the Lough Carra LIFE project.
RESEARCH INFORMATION:
Native Otter vs Invasive Mink: The Lough Carra LIFE Programme aims to preserve and restore biodiversity at the Lough Carra Catchment. This includes monitoring native European otter as well as the invasive (introduced) mink.
Ssmple Collection: A lot of information can be gained from different sample types like hair, blood, and even feaces (poop). However, some sample types are more invasive then others. It is important for animal welfare that we disturb them as little as possible, especially for cryptic and elusive (and threatened!) species such as otter.
Genetic Analysis: Genetic information (DNA) can be obtained from faecal samples. This includes establishing population size, seeing how many are male/female. identifying individual otters, and even looking at their diet. This is important information for conservation management.
In this episode, our guest is Deirdre Walsh, a renowned painter whose unique style beautifully captures the essence of the lake.
Deirdre Walsh lives and paints in Mayo where she is continually inspired by an elusive light. After graduating from University in Galway she spent six years in New York where she studied painting at Parsons School of Design and The Art Students League. During that time she had an opportunity to set up an Art Department in a large inner city High School. She returned to Ireland in 1993 and has been exploring colour in her local landscape, as a plein air painter. Her studio works are careful studies of old objects she has acquired over the years. Her work has been selected for RHA Annual Shows and she is currently represented by the Barbara Stanley Gallery London. She was Artist in Residence with Mayo County Council from 1995-2000
In this episode, I am speaking with Dr. Cilian Roden, also known as The Snorkeling Scientist, who studies the biology of Lough Carra.
Cilian is an expert on aquatic plants, with decades of experience in monitoring and securing Irish aquatic ecosystems. He is the author of "The Naturalist View" and multiple scientific publications on the subject of aquatic biology.
This is also the last episode of Season 1 of the LCCA Podcast. However, we are working in the background on Season 2. Hopefully, we will be able to share more soon.
In this episode, Padraig Kelly, the Lough Carra LIFE Groundwater Officer, discusses his role within the LIFE project and provides some preliminary results from the groundwater study of the catchment.
Padraig is from Ballintubber, Co Mayo, within the Lough Carra catchment area. Therefore, apart from being an expert in his field, he grew up close to the lake.
In this episode, Kieran Flynn, the Lough Carra LIFE Project Manager, discusses his role, the day-to-day operations of the LIFE Project, achievements, goals, and plans for the future.
The LCCA were instrumental in the establishment of the Lough Carra LIFE Project. They remain a key partner in the project, and will be central to Project’s AfterLIFE plan.
Hosted by: Jarek Majkusiak
In this episode, Tom Byrne and Chris Huxley, both founding members and directors of LCCA, discuss the history of the association, its current projects, and future ambitions. Tom and Chris provide an honest assessment of the current state of Lough Carra, along with potential solutions for the lake's future.
Hosted by: Jarek Majkusiak
Chris Huxley is a founding member and director of Lough Carra Catchment Association (LCCA). In this episode, Chris talks about the importance of the lake on an international and national scale, and the current state of the ecology of Lough Carra and its catchment area.
Hosted by: Jarek Majkusiak
