Celebrating biodiversity in Clough’

The Cloughjordan Community Development Association held a number of local events for Biodiversity Week. On Sunday afternoon, a ‘kick sampling’ workshop was held in the Ballyfinboy River by Bantis Bridge on the village edge with Rob Gandola, the senior science officer with The Herpatological Society of Ireland.

The sampling technique involved agitating the stones or sediment of a river or stream by foot and catching what invertebrates and microorganisms had been disturbed in a hand net that is held a little downstream. The samples were then rinsed out of the net into trays full of water for identification. Everyone had a chance to take part in the fun and informative citizen science activity. The Environmental Protection Agency published a report on Water Quality in Ireland 2019 -2024 in October 2025 with the Ballyfinboy River recorded as ‘declining in status’. Using the EPA scorecard, the ‘kick sampling’ exercise scores a value of Q3 - 4, which is a general moderate to good. The presence of Mayfly and Trout was seen as highly important.

The CCDA are exploring with LAWPRO future river assessment and water table management protects for the Ballyfinboy to raise awareness of the need to restore water quality values for the benefit of people and nature.