GEORGE HERRIOTT, AGE 35, SHANNONVALE, DROMINEER

I visited Dromineer on the busiest month of the year to meet George Herriott, a man passionate about his fly-fishing. George worked with the Office of Public Works (Waterways Ireland). The conversation began with the history of George’s family, which originally came from France and both George’s grandfather and father were pharmacists in Nenagh town. As a young boy he was brought fishing on the lake with his father, and at the age of 10 caught his first trout. Since then he has been fishing on the lake, and knows every part of it and the best pools for catching fish. The conversation continued as we walked down from George’s home to the lake. He spoke about his own work, and about living on a boat for many months of each year doing maintenance on the jetties and harbours all the way up the Shannon. It was fascinating to hear George talk about the mayfly and the way dapping is practised. Finally, as we retraced our steps, George pointed out a gate lodge which had been used by his family every year since he was a child.