Giant Hogweed Control – Morning Star River
The Maigue Rivers Trust continued its multi-year Giant Hogweed (GH) eradication programme on the Morning Star River at Elton, supported by LAWPRO and Limerick City and County Council. NPH Knotweed Services delivered ten days of intensive fieldwork between May and September 2024, using a combination of root removal, targeted digging in grazed areas and reduced-dose stem injection. Previous years’ work has significantly lowered mature plant numbers; only two flowering heads were found in 2024 and no plants reached maturity by season’s end.
Approximately 1,000 plants were manually removed in high-grazing zones, and all remaining plants along the river corridor were stem-injected using half the standard herbicide dose. The infestation is now considered under control, but continued monitoring is required until the seed bank is fully exhausted. Ongoing monitoring will be carried out by Limerick City and County Council.
Little Maigue Scientists – Family River Sessions 2025
The Family River Sessions introduce children and families to the wildlife of the Maigue catchment through guided outdoor exploration. Led by ecologist Geoff Hunt and supported by LAWPRO, the sessions focus on hands-on learning including pond dipping, mini-beast identification and simple citizen-science activities.
Demand continues to grow, with all sessions fully booked and waitlists required. These events foster curiosity, build local environmental awareness and encourage a new generation of river stewards.
Annual Maigue River Festival
The Maigue River Festival celebrates the culture, ecology and community of the Maigue catchment. Delivered as part of Fleadh Cheoil Luimnigh, the festival features biodiversity workshops, fly-tying and casting demonstrations, treasure hunts, children’s activities and educational talks in partnership with Inland Fisheries Ireland, LAWPRO and local experts.
In previous years, kayaking down the Maigue was also part of the festival. More than 400 people attended in 2025. The festival provides an accessible, family-friendly platform for learning about rivers, wildlife and sustainable water management.
Invasive Species Management – LEADER Programme
This project will be delivered in 2026. The LEADER-funded Invasive Species Project supports communities in identifying, understanding and managing invasive plants across the Maigue catchment. The project focuses on training, resources and public awareness to help prevent the spread of species such as Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam.
Educational workshops, mapping support and best-practice guidance strengthen local capacity and complement physical control works carried out by the Council and landowners.
Future Lakes Project
As an Associated Region in the Future Lakes EU project, the Maigue Rivers Trust contributes local insight to European research on lake health, climate pressures and community engagement.
The project supports knowledge exchange, public education and the development of tools to monitor and protect lakes, including Lough Gur and Bleach Lough. Participation strengthens the Trust’s scientific capacity and links local actions to wider international efforts to safeguard freshwater ecosystems.
West Liskenett River Restoration
The West Liskenett restoration initiative aims to improve river habitat, bank stability and ecological function in a priority stretch of the Maigue catchment. First developed jointly by MRT and LAWPRO in 2020, the project is now progressing with strong multi-agency support from Limerick City and County Council senior management, the Council’s Biodiversity and Bridges teams, the OPW and expected involvement from Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Planning is targeted for 2026, with in-stream works scheduled for 2027. Community engagement and farmer collaboration, including Farming for Water activities, form a core part of the programme.