Good2Go Paddle boarding

24/09/2025

Fresh Water, did you know that the Lower River Bann releases 92 sq mtrs of fresh water every second into the sea at the bar mouth between Portstewart and Castle Rock.

Are you aware that Lough Neagh our largest and greatest source of fresh water holds approximately 800millions gallons of freshwater?

Are you aware that Lough Neagh is only between 32.5 & 36 miles away from where the Lower Bann discharges into the sea.

So annually year in year that look like an approximate average of over 7 million cubic meters of fresh water per year exiting the Lower Bann into the sea which comes directly from Lough Neagh.

Now. Think about just how much of that 7 million cubic meters flowing at 92 sq mtrs per second is loaded with blue green algae. Understand that there is no way of stopping water leaving Lough Neagh at any time of year for the past three yrs and while yes the bacterial content is greatly reduced over winter months that same source water is continuously day and night running those 31.5 to 36 miles out into the sea which flows in and out all along the North Coast.

Yet, for some magical reason blue green algae for three years in a row only seems to affect the North Coast just in time for the schools going back and after all the lovely events are over.

Blue Green Algae may be many things folks but at least it's polite. It keeps itself to itself. It never affects the plans of Causeway & Glens. Does not get in the was of summer holidays or events on the coast and rarely affects anywhere outside the Lough until it's nearly Autumn. Amazing.

Our rivers are like veins and arteries to and from Lough Neagh. You cannot treat Lough Neagh like it's an isolated case. It is not localized to Lough Neagh & Lough Beg. Every burn, shuck, drain, pipe, stream and river has brought to Lough Neagh what it's contents are, positive or negative. The Lough discharges that to the Lower Bann which discharges into the coastal regions.

If someone were told what they were doing to their body would eventually lead to an infection that could lead to a life threatening condition. No one would want to see whatever it was continuing to happen. And to do so would be crazy. But if that body is a body of water it seems very few want to acknowledge or take seriously the implications.

No, instead while whatever is causing or driving the infection of Lough Neagh continues we look much more like we are going to largely ignore anything that could bring a meaningful change to our largest body of freshwater.

Meanwhile, those who enjoyed it recreationally or otherwise suffered. Ignored and possibly with the hope that their silence they would simply be of no significant consequence in a very large problem that by all accounts did not have to get to the place.

21/09/2025

I will never forget the moments and periods of time or the very specific memories preparing, prior to opening my own paddle boarding school

"Pain is where Purpose is".

Finding out at breakfast in a B&B in Castle Bar Co Mayo that my father had been admitted into hospital while I was at an instructor and professional skills retreat. Being taken for a surf at Inniscrone in Co Sligo, listening to Ireland playing England at Rugby from the sea while Ian left the speakers in his van blaring so we would miss the match even tho we were surfing while surfing in great company felt like a medicine to treat my aching heart with dad in hospital.

Swimming in -4C freshwater order to be able to submit evidence of competency to qualify for SUP water rescue, and being competent to swim a couple hundred mtrs in that same water was painful.

Physical assessment at Dublins Dún Laoghaire Harbour. Not just the to swim, the running, the paddling and the rescue assessments but doing both a L1 & L2 assessments on the one day between two locations then returning home. Tired, weary, hungry and exhausted but also achieved! with the patience and encouragement of a master trainer Paul Byrne ASI Academy of Surfing Instructors it got done.

Attending Tollymore National Outdoor Centre under the Mournes mountains to complete outdoor rescue emergency care in October under Kieran Kinney's watchful eye. I was wrecked after those two days.

Finalizing my theory level two SUP instructor qualification for exposed Waters between my father passing away and the day of his burial, I still have no memory of the actual exam, at that particular time, emotionally I was devastated but kept going.

The purpose was greater than the pain.

I was holding down a full time job, about to drop my hrs by half, creating financial vulnerability to live in a dream of owning my own small business, in the hope that dream would provide enough support for itself to see it build n find its place on the shores of Lough Neagh and it's associated waterways. I was taking time from my family in order to get to locations All over the place in order to qualify prior to launching the accredited paddle boarding school off the back of a world wide pandemic - in the midst of which my my birth mother died that Oct then my father in Nov of the same yr went into a hospital he never came home from until we laid his body in the ground. It was a challenging tiring and an extremely painful time for Me and our family.

Yet, somehow an instructor I did become, for enclosed and exposed Waters, our door quals were achieved, business loan secured, equipment was imported to our location, professional development completed, council fees paid, locations assessed and past for safe use and the business launched from Ballyronan May 2022 with first paying customers.

All that was achieved only to run into a green bacterial giant created by political arrogance, willful pollution, inappropriate policy and the commercial abuse of the largest freshwater asset on the Island of Ireland and within the British Isles.

If for some reason you imagine that our national inland waterways are not experiencing a man made environmental crisis right now. In my opinion there is and will be no hope for our countries freshwater drinking supply in the coming generations. We will not as a country realize just how significant the circumstances are right now until we can no longer have the opportunities to correct what's happening.

Our freshwater assets cannot be approached or handled in the same way our political attitudes have remained for generations. The water cannot debate the politicians it cannot tells us in any stroger way that something is wrong and it cannot change the past. That part is our responsibilty.

20/09/2025

I asked ai a couple of questions this afternoon.

Num1) Is there a global water crisis?

Did you know there is a water crisis on Earth and did you know that half of Earth's population experiences water scarcity for over half the year.

It took 15 seconds to find this out.

Apparently it is a growing scarcity of usable, accessible freshwater.

Apparently it is driven by climate change, population growth, and pollution.

Apparently it threatens food security, human health, and global stability.

Billions of people globally lack access to safe drinking water, and demand is projected to outstrip supply significantly in coming years .

Solutions involve sustainable water management, international cooperation, and addressing the interconnected issues of water, food, and energy.

Less than 10 Seconds to find the following.

NORTHER IRELAND and fresh water. So I asked ai if Northern Ireland had a water crisis. This was the reply. Notice Blue Green Algae is not mentioned. Yet!

Num 2) Does Northern Ireland have a water crisis?

Yes, Northern Ireland is experiencing a water infrastructure and quality crisis, driven by chronic underfunding of NI Water and wastewater infrastructure. This crisis restricts housing development, causes pollution, and has led to concerns about water quality and supply during peak demand periods, though reservoirs are currently in a healthy position.

Key Issues:

Underfunded Infrastructure: A significant and ongoing shortfall in funding for wastewater infrastructure is a central problem.

Stalled House Building: The lack of wastewater capacity has led to restrictions on new home connections, halting development in numerous towns.
Water Pollution: The poor state of wastewater infrastructure is a major contributor to serious water pollution in freshwater and marine environments.
High E. coli Levels: Dangerously high levels of E. coli have been found in shellfish, contributing to frequent beach closures due to water quality failures, according to Ulster Wildlife.

Strain on Supply:

While reservoir levels are healthy, high temperatures combined with increased water use for activities like power washing can overwhelm the treatment and distribution systems, leading to supply struggles.

Contributing Factors:

Government Funding Shortfall: NI Water has been underfunded, despite receiving a government subsidy, leading to a gap in capital investment for infrastructure.

Increased Demand:

High temperatures and increased demand during holiday periods put significant pressure on the water treatment and supply network, according to a BBC report.

What is being done:

Calls for Investment:

There is a clear call for increased government investment and potentially new revenue-raising measures, such as user charges, to address the funding gap.

Focus on Solutions:

The construction industry has been identified as a key partner in resolving the wastewater capacity issues, according to Pinsent Masons.

In summary: Northern Ireland faces a multifaceted water crisis, not a simple water shortage, but a failure in its own infrastructure that impacts housing, the environment, and potentially supply during peak times.

BACK TO GAVIN.

Here a few observations.

1) No mention of blue gree algae
2) NI has a healthy supply of water - and a very unhealthy way of managing it.
3) According to the proceeding info our solution is to beg for more money so as to continue doing the same things at an increased rate.
4) By the above rational then, our government would still be planning on doing absolutely nothing about protecting the water table.

You see, our water supply is plentiful and would be absolutely perfect only for the fact that our water management strategy for our country is poisoning it.

The outcome of which is that for more than half a year each year for three consecutive years in a row Lough Neagh, Lough Beg and the lower Bann river exists through a man made, governmentally led environmental crisis which suffers more from inaction various sectors painfully slow unwillingness to change anything about there contributions to the crisis and a public interest that seems at the moment at least to as effective of a chocolate fire guard.

In the midst of which everyone uses the crisis for their own agenda....while the environment suffers and the people who were and are affected most go forgotten and unsupported.

The saddest truth in it all. This did not have to happen, it did not need to happen. Profitability over Protection. Expansion over Environment, Politics before People and Commercialism before Clean Water.

Waterways Ireland BBC News NI UTV Northern Ireland

19/09/2025

With the weather beginning to change the the air temperature beginning to drop, it is important to change our paddling habits to stay safe and enjoy paddling.

The beauty of Autumn is the feeling that the sea isn't too chilly, but with cooler air temperature, wearing the correct clothing is key to not only staying safe, but being able to paddle for longer.

Make sure you stay safe, stay warm and stay in touch with others.

Now is the time of the year to get involved in those epic sunrises/sunsets!

And don't forget to share them with us 😉

Thank you to the legendary Jodie for the picture - 📸

18/09/2025

Same day. PART TWO: I am not one to put blame on a specific person, but let's be clear, the reasons for why we see Northern Ireland's greatest freshwater asset in its present state is well documented and entirely man made. Personally I'm encouraged to see how the agricultural sector is appropriating it's response to being practically blamed for the whole thing. UFU accept historic failings, acknowledge agriculture has got work to do but also has already done work to improve it's sectors contributions and for some maybe many it's not enough. For others it's ongoing but slow. For me, I believe there are huge differences between agricultural policies, agricultural practices, farming and farmers. I won't blame the farmer, I believe seeking truth before facts is important. Facts change. Not all farmers are equal and not all farming either. Where one person is prepared to work with and for the environment another may wish only to get what they can from it by whatever means nessessary. Like any other business. One thing is certain it's an absolute maze of views and opinions.

While NI water still simply tell us about the nine points of filtration, assuring us of testing and high water quality while talking about funding and inheriting substandard infrastructure - an infrastructure they cannot monitor fully, an infrastructure that has seen much less percentage investment from themselves and much more investment in shareholders pockets via dividends. It's a big area and there are lots of opinions, views and perspectives.

Mine is easy to follow and understand. Accepting there is problem to fix now, not in ten yrs as bickering all you want changes nothing for our inland waterways. So far, It's taken three yrs to implement zero actionable change in the catchment area. Therefore the crisis continues.

The good old days are very much gone. Industrialism of every major sector has not improved things, largely that has created further problems.Our wee country is top heavy, lacking appropriate infrastructure to prop up expansion and the management of our greatest freshwater asset and its associated waterways locally, nationally and internationally now known to be an absolute shambles. Yet the spin continues.

People should be upset. The worlds two most sought after commodities SAND and WATER are huge topics internationally. Within GB and Northern Ireland multiple freshwater assets are experiencing Algal blooms along a very similar time, which for.me.primaeily points to policy, not climate change or agricultural practice. And I personally believe water companies play a far larger margin in contributing to the problem than farming practices. Non the less, to me we can argue over nutrient over load and who is to blame for the next ten years or. Or we can promote and implement meaningful changes that actually make a difference to the environment nationally.

Remember it was last yr this was recorded. Some MLA's are now paying attention!! Small margins of change in attitude and response in admittances are happening. But that has taken three yrs.

UTV Northern Ireland BBC News NI Andrew Muir MLA

18/09/2025

Forgot I had made my feelings clear about the situation with Lough Neagh and our waterways. Most times I have tried to say something I have gotten caught up in other people's views or opinions, or admittedly have had a strong view but didn't want to speak it out in case someone got offended. Well, one day while paddle boarding approximately 8 miles on the Moyola in my own way I decided to record this...Consider it PART ONE: What I find funny, not! Is that with absolutely nothing done by way of acting to slow down any known contributing factors to the man made environmental crisis at Lough Neagh and it's associated waterways. Every word Is still as relevant.

UTV Northern Ireland BBC News NI Andrew Muir MLA

11/09/2025

04/09/2025

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🚨 Has poor water quality ever affected your paddle plans? Have you had to relocate or cancel plans?

💧 Our sport relies on clean, safe water!
The Clean Water Sports Alliance NI is gathering real life reports on the impact of poor water quality on sport and recreation across Northern Ireland. Every response strengthens our case for cleaner, safer waters for all!

🛶 If you have ever been affected whether by algae or pollution we need to hear from you.

📝 Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey. If you have more than one incident to report please complete one response for each incident.

👉 Share your experiences by clicking the link below:

https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/3c27802f096e41cfbd89a832ef091df0?portalUrl=https://outdoorrecni.maps.arcgis.com

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17/08/2025

29/07/2025

North American PFD Update: What New Life Jacket Rules Mean for SUP Paddlers Words by Beau Nixon ~ Jul 28, 2025 Covered:  Flatwater / All-round   News & Events  A new harmonised life jacket standard is making waves across the U.S. and Canada—bringing clarity, consistency, and better options for...

23/06/2025

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🚀 Curious about starting SUP racing? This episode’s for you.

Whether you’ve never raced, never trained, or are just race-curious… our guests .uk , .ivers and have stories, tips, and beginner-friendly guidance from those who’ve been there.

🌞 How to pick your first race
🤙 What kit you actually need
🦸‍♀️First-time stories that’ll inspire you to take the plunge

🎧 Listen here: https://www.supfmpodcast.com/episode/beginner-racing/

Thank you to our episode sponsors, Starboard SUP UK & Ireland Oscar Propulsion Paddle UK without whom we couldn't produce the show

17/06/2025