Waters of LIFE have welcomed Fergal Scully to the project as Catchment Agricultural Scientist in Cork. 

Fergal is operating in the Awbeg (Kilbrin) and Shournagh catchments and had a busy start to life with the project engaging directly with farmers on the Waters of LIFE agri-environmental programme pilot.

“It was a great way to get under the bonnet on the project,” said Fergal. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know the farmers in Cork. Those relationships are important.”

“I’m from an agricultural background myself and you can tell straight away how these farmers understand how important natural heritage is to where they’re from. We’re just building on joining the dots between water quality and that natural heritage.” 

Fergal is originally from Vicarstown in Co. Laois. He studied agri-environmental sciences in UCD for his undergraduate degree and went on to complete a masters in Biodiversity and Conservation from Trinity College Dublin. He also holds a professional qualification in project management and has previously held roles with Forestry Services Ltd and Birdwatch Ireland.

This latest appointment means Waters of LIFE is operating at its full complement of 10 staff for the very first time since the project launched in 2022. Fergal is being supporting on a contract basis by local agri-environmental consultant Diarmuid McSweeney, meaning the project has a dedicated resource for each of its five demonstration sub-catchments.

 

It’s a welcome update for project manager Anne Goggin. “It’s so important to have boots on the ground in these sub-catchments,” she said. “These types of projects can’t succeed without strong relationships with the communities who live and work locally. Staff recruitment and turnover is a challenge for everyone in this field, so we’re delighted to have a great people and a full team on board.

 Diarmuid McSweeney was a brilliant addition to the team and Fergal has had the same impact since he’s come in. We’ve seen a real uptake with Cork farmers in our pilot programme and we look forward to working with them over the next three years.”

Fergal Scully can be contacted at fergal.scully@watersoflife.ie