Press Releases31 Jul 25

Church Leaders make visit of listening, witness and stewardship to Lough Neagh

Last Wednesday (23rd July 2025), members of the Church Leaders’ Group (Ireland) visited Lough Neagh and Coney Island – a landscape rich in beauty, history, and ecological significance, but which is now facing an environmental crisis due to pollution.  The visit was not only an opportunity to witness the natural wonders of Lough Neagh, but also a moment to listen deeply to the voices of local communities, conservationists, and those whose livelihoods have long been connected to the lough.

Lough Neagh in crisis

Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in either Ireland or Britain, is a vital ecological, economic, and cultural heartland for Northern Ireland.  However, it now faces serious threats from nutrient pollution, invasive species such as zebra mussels, and increasingly severe blue–green algal blooms. These issues have devastated local fisheries and endangered unique native species like the pollan and dollaghan trout.

In 2025, for the first time in generations, eel fishing was suspended, not because of legislation but because export markets rejected the eels due to poor fat content, likely a result of Lough Neagh’s ecological deterioration.  For many families, a centuries–old way of life has, for now, been suspended in very worrying circumstances.

Listening to the community

Beginning at Maghery Country Park, the Church Leaders began their visit with a boat crossing to Coney Island.  There, they met members of the Southwest Lough Neagh, Rivers and Islands Association, along with local residents – including fishermen and environmental advocates – who are working tirelessly to restore and protect Lough Neagh’s ecosystems.  Their testimonies bore witness to both the beauty of this place and the severity of the crisis it faces.

A shared call to care

The theme for the visit – ‘Put out into the deep’ – invited profound spiritual reflection.  As the Church Leaders journeyed to and walked the grounds of Coney Island, including a visit to Saint Patrick’s Stone, they were reminded of the Gospel call to trust, to listen, and to act boldly for the sake of God’s creation.  Lough Neagh is more than just a lake; it is a place that represents a shared heritage that transcends political, religious, and social boundaries.  The Church Leaders’ visit offered an opportunity to model collaboration, care, and prophetic witness in the face of ecological collapse.

A symbol of unity and hope

Coney Island, with its 5,000 years of human habitation, from neolithic farmers to the present day, has stood as a symbol of continuity, resilience and renewal.  Today, cared for by the National Trust, it also symbolises the need to protect what is precious before it is lost.  The visit included a moment of shared prayer and reflection on Coney Island, allowing the Church Leaders the opportunity to offer a quiet but powerful witness to the Churches’ desire to walk together, listen deeply and act with courage in response to the unfolding crisis.

Let us walk together in faith, hope, and care, for the sake of creation, our communities, and generations to come.

The Church Leaders Group (Ireland) comprises Archbishops John McDowell and Eamon Martin, respectively Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Primates of All Ireland; the Rt Revd Dr Trevor Gribben, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church; the Revd Alan Wardlow, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland; and Bishop Sarah Groves, President of the Irish Council of Churches (who unfortunately was not able to be on the visit to Lough Neagh).