Donie's news Ireland Blog Friday

It’s a YES for: Ireland as voters approve the fiscal Treaty by 60 – 40 majority

    

With results from count centres completed, Ireland voters have chosen to say yes to the EU fiscal treaty and has now put it up to the Government to deliver on their promises.

The Yes side has officially won by 60.29% to 39.71%. 38 constituencies returned a Yes vote with just 5 – Dublin South Central, Dublin South West, Dublin North West, Donegal South West and Donegal North East – voting No. The turnout for the referendum was 50.6%.

HERE ARE THE results from your constituency counts as they were received at the Dublin Castle central count centre (in alphabetical order).

OVERALL NUMBER OF VOTES: 1,591, 385.

INVALID VOTES: 7,206.                  

TOTAL VALID VOTES: 1,584,179.

‘YES’   VOTES: 955,091. = 60.29%  

‘NO’     VOTES: 629,088. = 39.71%  

The ‘Yes’ vote won by 326,003 votes.

COMPLETED CONSITUENCY COUNTS: 43.

KEY TO MAP (via referendum.ie):

Green – Result in: Majority YES

Red – Result in: Majority NO

Blue – Count not yet completed

CARLOW-KILKENNY: Turnout 50.98%. Yes 63.29%; No 36.71%.

CAVAN-MONAGHAN: Turnout: 48.76%. Yes 57.58%; No 42.42%.

CLARE: Turnout 49.81%. Yes 65.73%; No 34.27%.

CORK EAST: Turnout 49.21%. Yes 60.52%; No 39.48%.

CORK NORTH-CENTRAL: Turnout 51.49%. Yes 52%; No: 48%.

CORK NORTH-WEST: Turnout 51.91%. Yes 65.59%; No 34.41%.

CORK SOUTH-CENTRAL: Turnout 53.46%. Yes 62.17%; No 37.83%.

CORK SOUTH-WEST: Turnout 51.55%. Yes 66.27%; No 33.73%.

DONEGAL NORTH-EAST: Turnout 42.59%. Yes 44.37%; No 55.63%.

DONEGAL SOUTH-WEST: Turnout 41.92%. Yes 45.05%; No 54.95%.

DUBLIN CENTRAL: Turnout 48.3%. Yes 53.53%; No 46.47%.

DUBLIN MID-WEST: Turnout 51.63%. Yes 50.01%; No 49.99%. 
(Just FIVE votes separated the sides in this one)

DUBLIN NORTH: Turnout 52.92%. Yes 60.43%; No 39.57%.

DUBLIN NORTH-CENTRAL: Turnout 58.76%. Yes 62.28%; No 37.72%.

DUBLIN NORTH-EAST: Turnout 57.17%. Yes 58%; No 42%.

DUBLIN NORTH-WEST: Turnout 51.85%. Yes 46.76%; No 53.24%.

DUBLIN SOUTH: Turnout 57.07%. Yes 75.84%; No 24.16%.

DUBLIN SOUTH-CENTRAL: Turnout 51.73%. Yes 49.1%; No 50.9%.

DUBLIN SOUTH-EAST: Turnout 48.84%. Yes 72.3%; No 27.7%.

DUBLIN SOUTH-WEST: Turnout 51.04%. Yes 49.30%; No 50.70%.

DUBLIN WEST: Turnout 51.65%. Yes 58.18%; No 41.82%.

DUN LAOGHAIRE: Turnout 57.17%. Yes 74.21%; No 25.79%.

GALWAY EAST: Turnout 46.77%. Yes 63.25%; No 36.45%

GALWAY WEST: Turnout 48.19%. Yes 57.91%; No 42.09%.

KERRY NORTH/WEST-LIMERICK: Turnout 47.16%. Yes 60.95%; No 39.05%.

KERRY SOUTH: Turnout 48.26%. Yes 64.67%; No 35.33%.

KILDARE NORTH: Turnout 51.23%. Yes 65.28%; No 35.27%.

KILDARE SOUTH: Turnout 49.61%. Yes 58.36%; No 41.64%.

LAOIS-OFFALY: Turnout 48.59%. Yes 59.64%; No 40.36%.

LIMERICK: Turnout 48.33%. Yes 66.1%; No 33.9%.

LIMERICK CITY: Turnout 48.79%. Yes 60.69%; No 39.31%.

LONGFORD-WESTMEATH: Turnout 46.74%. Yes 60.30%; No 39.70%.

LOUTH: Turnout 52.17%. Yes 52.75%; No 47.25%.

MAYO: Turnout 47.76%. Yes 67.24%; No 32.76%.

MEATH EAST: Turnout 48.98%. Yes 62.64%; No 37.36%.

MEATH WEST: Turnout 47.58%. Yes 56.58%; No 43.42%.

ROSCOMMON-SOUTH LEITRIM: Turnout 52%. Yes 60.75%; No 39.25%.

SLIGO-NORTH LEITRIM: Turnout 47.99%. Yes 60.32%; No 39.68%.

TIPPERARY NORTH: Turnout 53.97%; Yes 65.57%; No 34.42%.

TIPPERARY SOUTH: Turnout 52.96%. Yes 60.65%; No 39.35%.

WATERFORD: Turnout 51.11%. Yes 57.66%; No: 42.34%.

WEXFORD: Turnout 48.89%. Yes 57.81%; No 42.19%.

WICKLOW: Turnout 57.47%. Yes 60.88%; No 39.12%.

Europe must now repay Ireland’s trust, says No campaigner Declan Ganley

  

EUROPE must now repay Ireland’s trust in political leaders to deliver the country from crippling bank debts, Libertas founder and No campaigner Declan Ganley said.

The businessman said a Yes vote in the referendum on the fiscal stability treaty was an expression of trust in government to deal with the chronic insolvency that is killing the economy.

“This was the only democratic exercise on this particular treaty to be carried out in Europe,” he added.

“The majority of the electorate here have expressed trust and faith in our partners in Europe to do the right thing by us with regard to this bank debt.”

Arriving at Dublin Castle national count centre, Mr Ganley said the Irish people can no longer be treated as “patsies” picking up the bills of private banks who refuse to pay their own debts.

Asked why the No campaign faltered, he simply responded: “Not enough votes.”

Mr Ganley said it was “way too early” to say if he would run again for elected office under his Libertas banner, which he recently rebranded as a think-tank.

“I wouldn’t rule it out either,” he added.

“It’s going to be a long hot summer in European markets, and a lot is going to happen.”

Damning Enda Kenny with faint praise, he congratulated the Taoiseach on a successful strategy of not debating opponents.

“If you can’t win a debate, don’t have it,” he said.

Ireland’s fiscal treaty referendum

Turnout figures could be as low as 38%

  

Carmelite nuns could be asking where are all the voters? as they prepare to cast their vote in the European Fiscal Treaty Referendum at a polling station in north Dublin while Enda & Fionnuala smile after casting their votes in Mayo.

Voter turnout in Ireland’s referendum on the European fiscal treaty has been reported as low across the country maybe as low as 38%.

As polling stations closed at 10pm and counting starts, the percentage of those casting ballots was estimated overall to be in the high 30s. An electorate of 3.1 million were eligible to have their say.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was among the first to cast his vote as to whether the country should ratify the controversial agreement to impose stricter budget controls.

Turnout in Dublin averaged at 38%, with averages in the north west counties around 20%, and the commuter belt in Leinster well into the 30s. In the Cork area in the south, turnout was also as described as slow through the day but picked up into the 30s in the evening.

Similar patterns were reported in the western counties and midlands with a few higher results in parts of Limerick. The earliest indication of the result is expected no sooner than mid-morning, when the political tally men start estimations from the 43 constituencies.

Turnout is crucial with low voter numbers in two previous European referendums giving the anti-treaty side a huge boost. Ireland’s record is unpredictable, having rejected the last two at the first vote only to accept the EU reforms in a re-run the following years.

Mr Kenny cast his ballot at St Patrick’s National School in Castlebar, Co Mayo, alongside his wife Fionnuala while Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore voted in Shankill, south Dublin.

Elsewhere, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, one of the key figures in the anti-treaty camp, was out early casting his ballot in the constituency of Louth where he moved to from Belfast to contest the Republic’s 2011 general election.

On Wednesday night both Mr Kenny and Mr Adams made their final appeal for support. The Taoiseach said a strong Yes would send a message that Ireland is on the road to the recovery and that it would help continue the strong flow of investment into businesses seen over the last few months. He said: “While there are still difficult challenges ahead, I hope people will vote Yes to continuing the progress we’ve made together.”

Mr Adams’ final message to voters warned that the treaty would not solve the eurozone crisis and would put into the Constitution the failed austerity policies. He said: “I ask Irish citizens not to be bullied, not to give their democratic rights away, not to give up their say over Irish economic policy and not to write austerity into the Constitution.”

New Euro report shows Irish teenagers now consuming less drink and drugs since 2007

    

A new report by the European Monitoring Centre on alcohol and drug consumption by 15 and 16 year olds across Europe has indicated a drop in drink and drug use by Irish teenagers since 2007.

The survey was carried out last year for Drugs and Drug Addiction; full comparative figures were not supplied but changes from 2007 were shown. In no category was there any increase for Ireland.

The report showed 40 per cent of students of this age in Ireland reported “heavy episodic drinking” in the last 30 days. That was a “significant” drop from the last survey.

While the Irish result was just ahead of the EU average of 39 per cent, it was well behind the British result (52 per cent) and France (67 per cent).

Just six per cent of teenagers reported having tried any drug other than cannabis, exactly in line with the EU average but lower than Britain, where the result was nine per cent.

However Irish teens reported consuming more alcohol than the average in their last drinking occasion.

Irish smoking rates were below average, at 21 per cent in the last 30 days compared to the average of 28 per cent, and 38 per cent in France.

Looking at consumption of all addictive substances, the countries with the lowest rates of consumption were Iceland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova and Montenegro.

No single country was above average for all measures but the report mentioned notably high rates in the Czech Republic, Estonia and France.

Three of Ireland’s youngest universities rank in the 

World’s top 100

  

Ireland’s three youngest universities under 50 years old are ranked among the top 100 in the world for their age.

The three universities are–   NUI Maynooth, (NUIM), Dublin City University (DCU) and the University of Limerick (UL)

The new league table shines a light on colleges that struggle for recognition against institutions with reputations going back hundreds of years.

Global university rankings are usually dominated by iconic names such as Oxford (established 1096), Cambridge (established 1209) and Harvard (established 1636). Trinity College, which carries top billing for Ireland in such tables, was established in 1592.

The new UK-based Times Higher Education (THE) 100 Under 50 rankings puts NUIM in 64th place, DCU at 86th and UL at 97th.

Rankings editor Phil Baty said they served as a warning to the traditional elites that new powers were quickly emerging.

He commented on the “tough times” faced by Irish universities now because of the difficult funding situation.

“The fact that the Ireland’s older elite universities did not make the traditional THE World University Rankings top 100 list last autumn was a cause of great concern. However, this new list of the world’s best under 50s offers some hope.”

Higher Education Authority chief executive Tom Boland said that while there was often dispute as to what rankings measured, Ireland’s universities were always among the top 2pc-3pc.

There are about 15,000 universities in the world, but it is not known exactly how many fall into the under 50 category.

It measured colleges using 13 criteria, and adapted the methodology it uses for its annual World Top100 specially for this purpose.

Earlier this week, DCU was ranked 46th in another rankings of global universities under 50 years old, conducted by ratings agency QS.

Eating 100g dark chocolate a day could prevent heart problem

    

Eating about 100g of dark chocolate daily could help prevent heart problems in high risk people, Melbourne researchers say.

Dark chocolate is rich in components called polyphenols, especially flavonoids, which can have anti-imflammatory and blood pressure lowering effects.

Melbourne researchers surveyed data on 2000 people at risk of developing heart disease and estimated the benefits to their health of eating 100g of dark chocolate a day after a decade.

Using a best-case scenario of 100 per cent compliance, the researchers showed that daily dark chocolate consumption could avert about 85 fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, per 10,000 people treated over 10 years.

It also showed that spending $40 per person a year on prevention strategies using dark chocolate would be cost-effective.

Although the reduction in heart problems in the population was less than one per cent, Monash University researcher Prof Chris Reid said the strategy could save money considering the cost of heart attack and stroke on the community and the number of people with heart disease who died each year.

“Because of the high cost of treating those diseases, the potential savings of those number of fatal and non-fatal events, actually make this quite a cost-effective strategy,” Prof Reid told AAP.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, causing about 17 million deaths in 2004, the study said.

An increasing number of people were at risk of developing heart disease, Prof Reid said.

The research noted that polyphenols were also found in fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and tea.

However, Prof Reid said the study had shown eating dark chocolate had a high compliance rate and made people feel full.

The study did not take into account weight gain but the potential benefits on blood pressure and cholesterol would outweigh weight gain, “but that is something you would need to consider,” he said.

Dr Paul Lewandowski, senior lecturer at Deakin University’s School of Medicine, said eating 100g of dark chocolate a day would do no harm but it had to be part of a healthier lifestyle.

He said if people had a balanced diet they would probably receive enough polyphenols from the food they were consuming.

The effects of dark chocolate on lowering blood pressure and cholesterol were not as profound as drugs, the study said.

The study, involving Monash University, University of Melbourne and Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute researchers, was published in the British Medical Journal on Thursday.

Galway's Tesco stores introduce new Homegrown in Ireland products events

  

Galway shoppers are in for a treat as Tesco will showcase the best of Irish produce in Galway, Oranmore, and Ballinsaloe this week.

The events are part of Tesco’s new Homegrown in Ireland campaign which will see 70 suppliers across 52 Tesco stores display their products.

The initiative aims to highlight the best in seasonal, fresh, Irish produce and educate the consumer about Irish growing seasons and fresh produce. A new ‘Homegrown in Ireland’ label will be introduced to Tesco fresh own-lines to denote fresh, Irish, produce.

Shane Flaherty, Galway store manager, said the event is a great chance for Galway shoppers to sample excellent Irish produce.

“This is a great opportunity for Galway shoppers to come down to our stores to taste the best in fresh Irish foods. All Tesco fresh Irish produce, including our fresh beef, fresh pork, and fresh lamb, as well as Irish milk and eggs will now be branded under the ‘Homegrown in Ireland’ banner, which will mean they are guaranteed seasonal, fresh, Irish foods,” he said.

Suppliers that will feature at the Galway stores include O’Hara’s Bakery, Dawn Meats, Arrabawn Milk, Magnetti Foods, and Brogan’s Bakery.

Tesco recently announced that it will work in partnership with Bord Bia to help food and drinks companies to develop their skills. The supermarket chain is now worth €2.7bn a year to the Irish economy. Exports to Tesco outlets abroad now account for nine per cent of overall food and drink exports from Ireland, according to a recent report by Indecon.

The Homegrown in Ireland event will take place in Galway Tesco today, Thursday May 31, from 4pm to 8pm. The event at the Oranmore store takes place tomorrow, Friday June 1, between 4pm and 8pm, and on Saturday June 2 between 2pm and 6pm at the Ballinasloe branch.

Donie's Ireland news Blog Monday

Priests and the laity move to reform the Catholic Church in Ireland

    

An umbrella group is to be formed to represent laity interested in reforming the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Two meetings to step up reform planned for this week

Reports state that a meeting will be held in Dublin on Wednesday night to discuss the formation of the group.
The proposal is a follow-on from a meeting attended by over 1,000 Catholic laity, priests and nuns three weeks ago which called for dialogue in the Irish church.

Noel McCann, one of the organisers of Wednesday’s meeting, told the paper: “We feel that an umbrella organisation will bring greater focus and cohesion to the ‘lay voice’ calling for dialogue.

“Our aim would be to establish the organisation in the mainstream, and with the moral authority coming from a significant membership so that it can become relevant to the debate on the future reform and renewal of our church.

“The intention is to discuss the options with representatives of existing groups and interested individuals at next Wednesday’s meeting, which will, hopefully, be the start of a vibrant new lay organisation which will give a real voice to those who currently feel excluded from any form of meaningful dialogue in our church.”

More information is available by contacting Noel by email at nsmccann@eircom.net.

The Association of Catholic Priests is also planning a meeting in Mayo on Wednesday night according to the paper when it will discuss plans to set up regional events similar to the recent one in Dublin. The group now has 900 priests as members.

In a statement on the ACP website, Fr Brendan Hoban emphasised: “We do not seek to overturn the defined teaching of the Catholic Church.

“ACP wants to have a conversation about the realities of Irish church life today and about issues we believe the Irish church urgently needs to discuss.

“ACP is no threat to the unity of the church. We cherish and we value and we wish to further the unity of all our people, with our fellow clergy, with religious, with our bishops and with the successor of Peter.

“We have a right and a duty to discuss the problems facing the church. Silencing us will not make the issues go away. It will only create more unhappiness, and damage the unity of the church.

“Freedom of conscience is a fundamental Christian teaching; it is not a strange or frightening concept. The word ‘dissident’ does not describe us. We are at the heart of our church, and that is where we wish to stay. So, please, work with us; talk with us; pray with us.”

Four people still in hospital after Cavan car rally crash

 

Gardai on the scene of yesterday?s crash in Cavan in which a Ford Escort crashed into a group of spectators, killing two.

Four people remain in hospital today after two spectators were killed and seven others injured after a car taking part in a rally in Co Cavan went out of control.

The man who died was named locally as Joe Lane (51), a photographer from Galway. The woman, Caroline Cleary (29), from Inniskeen, Co Cork, was there with her partner, who is a rally driver.

Five other people were taken to Cavan hospital with injuries along with the driver of the car and his co-driver.

The Health Service Executive declined to provide details of their injuries, though some are believed to be serious.

Gardaí and Motorsport Ireland, the governing body for the sport, have launched separate investigations.

They are likely to focus on issues such as why the car went out of control and the marshalling of the race.

Gardaí have asked anyone in the vicinity of the crash to contact them as part of their investigation.

The crash occurred at 11.10am on stage one of the Cavan Motor Club special stages rally, shortly after the three-stage race had begun.

Eyewitnesses said the car, a Mark II Escort, became airborne after driving over a hump in the road at high speed.

As it landed, it appeared to go out of control and crashed into a fence outside a house near Bailieborough, where spectators were standing.

John Fisher, who was further up the road and witnessed the incident with his nine-year-old grandson, said the spectators were well back from the road side.

“There was a bank behind them. Once the car hit that fence they hadn’t a hope,” he said.

Another onlooker, who declined to be named, described the scene following the crash.

“It was harrowing: bodies were strewn all over the place. A lot of carnage. From what I could see there were two fatalities. Maybe eight injured, one seriously.

“There were seven or eight ambulances on the scene shortly afterwards,” he said.

Brian McEnroe, one of 180 volunteer race marshals who attended on the day from clubs all over the country, said he was shocked. “There has to be a serious shake-up with the clubs and the marshals,” he said.

Cavan Motor Club expressed deep regret at the incident. “At this time all our energy is focused on the families of those involved in this tragic accident,” club secretary Jim Reilly said.

“The relevant authorities were immediately advised of the incident and the rally rescue services attended the scene. An investigation has begun into all facts surrounding the accident.”

He said all marshals were trained and experienced in the positions they were allocated and were directed by sector marshals. He said all the procedures were in place and there were signs, tapes and no-go areas.

Mr Reilly could not say whether the area where the injured spectators were standing was within a no-go area.

Garda Supt Gerry O’Brien said the Garda helicopter had been dispatched to take aerial photographs of the scene.

Forensic investigators had attended and the car had been removed for technical examination.

“Where they were standing, one would assume they would have been safe, in the front garden of a private house,” Supt O’Brien said. “It all happened in seconds; they didn’t have a chance to run.”

More than 100 cars from all over Ireland were involved in the rally, a yearly event organised by the club. It was cancelled immediately after the crash occurred.

Joan Burton plans to tax child benefit 

For Ireland’s €100,000 rich earners

       

The Social Protection Minister has confirmed that she wants to tax child benefit for rich families. 

Joan Burton said that rather then means-testing child benefit for all parents, she would prefer to tax child benefit for all those with children earning more than €100,000. It is understood the Department of Social Protection and the Revenue Commissioners recently initiated a full exchange of data that will allow Minister Burton to introduce the measure in the next budget. 

 However, the Minister says some technical difficulties need to be ironed out first:

Fiscal Treaty ‘a safety net’ for future funding for Ireland says Eamon Gilmore?

 

Above left Eamon Gilmor and right pictured Enda Kenny, Lucinda Creighton and Eamon Gilmore at the launch of the Government’s online campaign.

The European  fiscal treaty is a “safety net” which would provide Ireland with an insurance policy for future emergency funding, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has stated.

“This is an important and necessary step on the road to recovery. This is about having a stable euro, it is about having confidence for investors to create jobs here, and it is about making sure this country has access to emergency funding if we need it,” he said yesterday. He was campaigning in Dublin.

However, he said the treaty could not on its own deliver economic recovery.

“We’ve always said that other things are necessary to bring about economic recovery and that is why we welcomed the meeting last Wednesday, the European summit, which has moved the discussion on to talking about growth and investment and jobs. This treaty is a necessary measure, it is not the only measure required.”

Mr Gilmore criticised the decision of Independent TD Shane Ross to call for a No vote, but said he didn’t think his intervention would bolster the anti-treaty campaign.

“I think he has remained on the fence for so long that I think announcing a decision at this stage is less than credible for somebody who is in public life and should be providing leadership.”

Both sides in the fiscal treaty debate have again strongly disputed their opponents’ claims in the continuing row over Ireland’s access to emergency funding.

Access to European Stability Mechanism funds in the event of a No vote has been the dominant issue over the past three weeks of the campaign.

The latest row over access to the funds followed assertions made this weekend by Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams that ESM funding would be provided even if the treaty was rejected by the electorate. Mr Adams made the claim during his ardfheis address to his party and then repeated it in several interviews yesterday.

Referring to the separate ESM treaty (which does not have to be ratified by referendum because it does not touch on Ireland’s sovereignty) Mr Adams said yesterday: “It says that funding will be available when it’s indispensable for the stability of the euro zone.”

However, the contention was challenged by Fianna Fáil director of elections Timmy Dooley yesterday. He said Sinn Féin, in making that claim, was only “telling half the story to people” and claimed it was a bid to deliberately confuse and mislead people.

Mr Dooley said that if one continued to read the ESM treaty, it has made clear that availability of the funds is subject to “strict conditionality”.

“The next page of the ESM treaty then sets out the strict conditions. It states that ‘the granting of financial assistance will be conditional on the ratification of the fiscal treaty’.

“Sinn Féin has form in misrepresenting basic facts, having been caught misquoting a series of leading economists in their campaign literature. But this is even more serious as Gerry Adams is clearly misleading citizens and creating confusion where there doesn’t need to be,” he said.

Last night the transport union TSSA urged its 1,500 members in the Republic of Ireland to vote “No” in the referendum.

Its general secretary Manuel Cortes said the referendum provided an opportunity for people to say No to never-ending recession, unrelenting unemployment and a continued attack on public services.

Separately Labour TD Aodhán Ó Riordáin argued it was irresponsible for public sector unions to urge No votes when their members’ pay will be put at risk by being locked out of the ESM.

“It is only by borrowing that we can hold onto the Croke Park agreement,” he said.

Finner Camp Donegal Army Forces and the Air Corps fight forest fires near Glengesh

  

The Defence Forces deployed an Air Corps helicopter to assist efforts to fight forest fires in Donegal yesterday.

Troops based in Finner Camp, Co Donegal, were also placed on standby to assist with some elements being recalled to barracks. An Air Corps AW 139 helicopter fitted with a specialist under-slung bucket dropped water on fires near Glengesh in south Donegal.

The helicopter dropped a total of 21,000 litres of water in 17 sorties on the fires and in a statement the Defence Forces said the operations have “been successful in containing the spread of the fire”.

Gardaí in Co Kerry are investigating a blaze which destroyed rare sand dunes on Fenit island in the county. The blaze which had to be put out by the fire service occurred on Thursday evening. Local conservationists have expressed their dismay. The fire may have been started deliberately.

Biggest trout in 118 years caught in Lough Corrib West of Ireland

   

Ceri Jones from Rhondda, south Wales, (photo) outside John Burke’s pub in Clonbur, Co Galway, with the 23lb 12oz ferox brown trout he caught on Lough Corrib. The trout will go on permanent display in the pub

A Brown trout weighing nearly 24lb was taken from Lough Corrib on Saturday afternoon.

The specimen fish, unofficially the second largest on record, was caught by Welsh angler Ceri Jones in deep water near the lake’s biggest island, Inish Goill.

If ratified by the Irish Specimen Fish Committee, the fish will go down as a record for Lough Corrib, and the largest trout caught in Ireland in 118 years.

Jones (46), who works as a freelance photographer with the British Trout Fisherman, was trolling using a “roach deadbait” when he hooked the fish.

“When I hooked it first I knew instantly it was a big fish. It was like hooking a car, the line just streamed off the reel.”

Jones, from the Rhondda Valley in south Wales, played the fish for more than an hour before he managed to land it. The trout was weighed by another angler at the water’s edge at 25lb 2oz, but was later weighed at 23lb 12oz using a butcher’s scale.

Before Jones returned to Burke’s Bar in the village of Clonbur, Co Galway, where he is staying, word of his catch had got out, and dozens of people came to see the fish. Jones plans to have his specimen trout stuffed and mounted in the bar.

Lough Corrib is renowned as one of the best wild brown trout fisheries in the world.

The Irish trout record is held by William Mears, who landed a brown trout of 26lb 2oz from Lough Ennell, Co Westmeath, in 1894.