Waters of LIFE has welcomed 100 new farmers to its agri-environmental programme pilot in the past two weeks. The EU-funded project has been hosting programme entry clinics in its five demonstration sub-catchments.

Programme entry is open to any eligible farmer who submitted an expression of interest in 2025. Farm plans and contract offers have been issued to those land owners and confidence is high that more will join before the entry window closes on Friday May 15^th.

Catchment Scientists will spend the next two weeks in their localities, supporting any farmer who’d like to complete the entry process.

115 people attended the clinics in Annamoe Co. Wicklow, Flagmount Co. Clare, Kilbrin and Stuake in Cork and Williamstown, Co. Galway.

2026 is the last year of open entry to the programme. A total of 1400 are eligible to join.

“The response to the clinics has been brilliant,” says project Stakeholder Relationship Manager Ross O’Donoghue. “Locals are aware of Waters of LIFE and the opportunities we provide to help people do their bit for water quality.”

“The clinics are all about easing any administrative burden for programme entry. That will continue now on a one-to-one basis in our sub-catchments. We’ll have invite clinics, we’ll be on the phone and we’ll be in the farm yard for anyone who’d like to get a contract signed.”

If you received a contract offer from Waters of LIFE and would like help completing your entry, please contact your local catchment scientist.

Waters of LIFE Demonstration Sub-catchments:

Graney demonstration sub-catchment:

Municipal District: Killaloe (Clare) and Loughrea (Galway)

Webpage: https://www.watersoflife.ie/catchments/graney

Catchment Scientist: Ruth Bennett Coady +353868181461

Avonmore demonstration sub-catchment:

Municipal District: Wicklow

Webpage: https://www.watersoflife.ie/catchments/avonmore/

Catchment Scientist: Mark Desmond +353861986343

Shournagh demonstration sub-catchment

Municipal District/LEA: Macroom / Cork City North West

Webpage: https://www.watersoflife.ie/catchments/shournagh

Catchment Scientists: Fergal Scully +353868322078 and Diarmuid McSweeney +353873419907

Awbeg (Kilbrin) demonstration sub-catchment:

Municipal District: Kanturk-Mallow

Webpage: https://www.watersoflife.ie/catchments/awbeg_kilbrin

Catchment Scientists: Fergal Scully +353868322078 and Diarmuid McSweeney +353873419907

Islands demonstration sub-catchment:

Municipal District: Ballinasloe (Galway), Roscommon (Roscommon).

Webpage: https://www.watersoflife.ie/catchments/islands

Catchment Scientist: John Kelly +353862013578

Click here for more information on Programme Entry