Protecting Shared Waters is a cross-border collaborative project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The project is led by NI Water, working with partners across the Fane Catchment (extending across Counties Armagh Monaghan and Louth) including Uisce Éireann, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) alongside our associate partners the Oriel Community Catchment Association (ORCCA) and Monaghan County Council.*

Earlier this month, as part of the project, a successful ‘Who's Who in Water’ event was held in Castleblayney Library. The event brought together community members, local organisations and key agencies to learn more about the Fane Catchment, hear from local experts, and explore opportunities to get involved in protecting and improving local waters.

Speakers included representatives from the River Basin Management Services (formerly LAWPRO), ORCCA, Friends of Lough Muckno, and members of the Protecting Shared Waters project team. Attendees got to share local knowledge, discuss water-related challenges as well as the opportunities, and learned about upcoming project activities.

The event provided an overview of the project and highlighted how communities, businesses, landowners and other stakeholders can get involved through upcoming activities, including the ECO Programme and Knowledge Exchange Events.

Ready to make a difference for the River Fane and our shared waters?

Join the free ECO programme, starting 5 September 2026

The free ECO Programme will consist of six Saturday workshops running between September and December 2026. Combining indoor learning with practical field-based activities, the programme has been designed around the rivers, lakes, wetlands, landscapes and communities of the Fane Catchment, using local examples, issues and opportunities wherever possible.

The programme aims to help participants better understand local water challenges while exploring practical solutions such as Nature-based Solutions (NbS), water conservation measures and community-led action for healthier and more resilient waterways.

Provisional workshop dates:

September: 5th, 26th
October: 10th, 17th
November: 7th, 21st
December: 5th

Learn from experts, undertake practical activities, visit demonstration sites, and develop project ideas that could contribute to improving water quality and quantity across the catchment.

The ECO Programme is for anyone aged over 18 with an interest in protecting and improving our water environment, including community groups, anglers, recreational users, farmers, and landowners.

The River Fane is a crossborder catchment, and the ECO Programme is open to participants from Northern Ireland and Ireland.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Erin McCrudden: [email protected] | +353 87 495 4399

Catherine Kelly: [email protected] | +353 87 612 5716

Or click here to complete the “Expression of Interest” online here

* Protecting Shared Waters is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.