Salmon fishing has been part of life at Ballyvolane House for generations. Growing up here, the arrival of the salmon fishing season was always something to look forward to. The Munster Blackwater was once regarded as one of Ireland’s finest salmon rivers, attracting anglers from all over the world.
My late mother, Merrie Green, was a passionate salmon angler. Fishing was an important part of her life, and through her enthusiasm it became an integral part of our family history.
When my parents began welcoming paying guests to Ballyvolane House, salmon fishing was one of our main attractions. We operated several beats on the Blackwater, employed local ghillies and welcomed visiting anglers, many of whom returned year after year.
These visitors stayed for several nights, sometimes longer, enjoying not only the fishing but also the hospitality, landscape and traditions of the Blackwater Valley. Their visits supported local ghillies, tackle suppliers, pubs, restaurants and accommodation providers.
It was a wonderful example of rural tourism working in harmony with our natural heritage.
A River That Has Changed Beyond Recognition
Sadly, over the past twenty years, wild Atlantic salmon stocks have declined so dramatically that the angling tourism business we once knew has virtually disappeared.
Today, we can no longer rely on salmon fishing to attract guests to Ballyvolane House. The decline has affected not just our business but an entire network of people and communities whose livelihoods were once connected to the river.
And the Munster Blackwater is far from alone. Across Ireland, once-famous salmon rivers have experienced similarly worrying declines.
For those of us who remember these rivers in better times, the loss is deeply saddening.
What Has Happened to Our Salmon?
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