Elaine McGoff
@elainemcgoff.bsky.social
PhD. Head of Advocacy for An Taisce. Water floats my boat. 🚲 powered. Views are my own.
The first really wintery swim of the season. Breathtaking but beautiful.
November 21, 2025 at 10:21 AM
The first really wintery swim of the season. Breathtaking but beautiful.
5000km later on our family e-bike. In spite of the soggy weather today, I must admit the joy this bike gives me hasn't waned noticeably from this maiden voyage when we first got it 2 years ago.
This is your regular PSA to just take the leap if you're considering an ebike. You won't regret it.
This is your regular PSA to just take the leap if you're considering an ebike. You won't regret it.
November 14, 2025 at 9:46 AM
5000km later on our family e-bike. In spite of the soggy weather today, I must admit the joy this bike gives me hasn't waned noticeably from this maiden voyage when we first got it 2 years ago.
This is your regular PSA to just take the leap if you're considering an ebike. You won't regret it.
This is your regular PSA to just take the leap if you're considering an ebike. You won't regret it.
The juxtaposition of these two posts in my timeline tells its own story.
November 13, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The juxtaposition of these two posts in my timeline tells its own story.
Privileged to have met our new president tonight.
Comhghairdeas Uachtarán!
Comhghairdeas Uachtarán!
November 11, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Privileged to have met our new president tonight.
Comhghairdeas Uachtarán!
Comhghairdeas Uachtarán!
'Hijacked'? 'Pushing an agenda'? It's called EU law, namely the Habitats Directive, it's been in place for decades, & like most laws Ireland is failing to do that well, while our biodiversity pays the price.
So, yes, eNGOs are pushing it. Unapologetically.
www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/wa...
So, yes, eNGOs are pushing it. Unapologetically.
www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/wa...
November 10, 2025 at 11:51 AM
'Hijacked'? 'Pushing an agenda'? It's called EU law, namely the Habitats Directive, it's been in place for decades, & like most laws Ireland is failing to do that well, while our biodiversity pays the price.
So, yes, eNGOs are pushing it. Unapologetically.
www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/wa...
So, yes, eNGOs are pushing it. Unapologetically.
www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/wa...
Today I endeavoured to speak for the rivers, to provide a counter balance to the lobbyist's narrative on the polluting nitrates derogation.
Our rivers, lakes and seas deserve a chance to run healthy, wild and free from pollution
www.antaisce.org/news/an-tais...
Our rivers, lakes and seas deserve a chance to run healthy, wild and free from pollution
www.antaisce.org/news/an-tais...
November 7, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Today I endeavoured to speak for the rivers, to provide a counter balance to the lobbyist's narrative on the polluting nitrates derogation.
Our rivers, lakes and seas deserve a chance to run healthy, wild and free from pollution
www.antaisce.org/news/an-tais...
Our rivers, lakes and seas deserve a chance to run healthy, wild and free from pollution
www.antaisce.org/news/an-tais...
For those in any doubt, the ongoing nitrates derogation debate is not about the science on water quality, it's political wrangling, with our rivers, lakes and seas caught in the crossfire.
Our waterways deserve better- one can't drink politics.
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
Our waterways deserve better- one can't drink politics.
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
November 6, 2025 at 9:19 AM
For those in any doubt, the ongoing nitrates derogation debate is not about the science on water quality, it's political wrangling, with our rivers, lakes and seas caught in the crossfire.
Our waterways deserve better- one can't drink politics.
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
Our waterways deserve better- one can't drink politics.
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
Urban wastewater treatment is the 4th greatest pressure on Irish water quality. Some of that could be fixed by infrastructure, but almost half of the pollution is due to poor operational management.
The solution is not less environmental scrutiny.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
The solution is not less environmental scrutiny.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
November 3, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Urban wastewater treatment is the 4th greatest pressure on Irish water quality. Some of that could be fixed by infrastructure, but almost half of the pollution is due to poor operational management.
The solution is not less environmental scrutiny.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
The solution is not less environmental scrutiny.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
-also, the derogation limits organic nitrogen applied to land, not 'nitrogen emissions' & not artificial fertiliser
-multi species swards fix atmospheric N making it available for leaching to waterways, with potential pollution impacts
-the majority of nitrogen is from cattle urinating at pasture.
-multi species swards fix atmospheric N making it available for leaching to waterways, with potential pollution impacts
-the majority of nitrogen is from cattle urinating at pasture.
October 20, 2025 at 10:34 AM
-also, the derogation limits organic nitrogen applied to land, not 'nitrogen emissions' & not artificial fertiliser
-multi species swards fix atmospheric N making it available for leaching to waterways, with potential pollution impacts
-the majority of nitrogen is from cattle urinating at pasture.
-multi species swards fix atmospheric N making it available for leaching to waterways, with potential pollution impacts
-the majority of nitrogen is from cattle urinating at pasture.
Here's one opinion anyway
October 8, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Here's one opinion anyway
North Cork Creameries were not complying with the rules. They were over their licenced ammonia limit in all but one of the 14 days directly before the kill.
September 27, 2025 at 3:59 PM
North Cork Creameries were not complying with the rules. They were over their licenced ammonia limit in all but one of the 14 days directly before the kill.
It's another black day for our waters, and this lack of accountability is sadly unsurprising.
What will it take for us to protect our collective waterways in a meaningful way? Clearly more than a river is worth.
After all, who really needs clean water?
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
What will it take for us to protect our collective waterways in a meaningful way? Clearly more than a river is worth.
After all, who really needs clean water?
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
September 26, 2025 at 11:25 AM
It's another black day for our waters, and this lack of accountability is sadly unsurprising.
What will it take for us to protect our collective waterways in a meaningful way? Clearly more than a river is worth.
After all, who really needs clean water?
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
What will it take for us to protect our collective waterways in a meaningful way? Clearly more than a river is worth.
After all, who really needs clean water?
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
But fear not, be reassured that this is a short lived event!
Let's all conveniently ignore the massive ecological impacts which will reverberate out through the ecosystem from this kill, and the years it will take for the fish population to recover.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Let's all conveniently ignore the massive ecological impacts which will reverberate out through the ecosystem from this kill, and the years it will take for the fish population to recover.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
September 26, 2025 at 11:25 AM
But fear not, be reassured that this is a short lived event!
Let's all conveniently ignore the massive ecological impacts which will reverberate out through the ecosystem from this kill, and the years it will take for the fish population to recover.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Let's all conveniently ignore the massive ecological impacts which will reverberate out through the ecosystem from this kill, and the years it will take for the fish population to recover.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
North Cork Creameries has a long established terrible track record of polluting, over years. What I want to know is,what does it actually take for the EPA to revoke someone's licence?
They're immune to enforcement notices & legal prosecutions, why should we expect this leopard to change its spots?
They're immune to enforcement notices & legal prosecutions, why should we expect this leopard to change its spots?
September 26, 2025 at 11:25 AM
North Cork Creameries has a long established terrible track record of polluting, over years. What I want to know is,what does it actually take for the EPA to revoke someone's licence?
They're immune to enforcement notices & legal prosecutions, why should we expect this leopard to change its spots?
They're immune to enforcement notices & legal prosecutions, why should we expect this leopard to change its spots?
The world is going to hell in a handbasket, but I still have this beautiful river to swim in, and for that I'm endlessly grateful.
#ProtectNature
#ProtectNature
September 26, 2025 at 9:14 AM
The world is going to hell in a handbasket, but I still have this beautiful river to swim in, and for that I'm endlessly grateful.
#ProtectNature
#ProtectNature
It's 17 years since I've been on the beautiful Lough Carra, and the unusual white marl that gives the water a distinctive turquoise look is sadly looking very green now on foot of nutrient pollution.
Another treasure being slowly lost to us all.
Another treasure being slowly lost to us all.
September 23, 2025 at 3:57 PM
It's 17 years since I've been on the beautiful Lough Carra, and the unusual white marl that gives the water a distinctive turquoise look is sadly looking very green now on foot of nutrient pollution.
Another treasure being slowly lost to us all.
Another treasure being slowly lost to us all.
The perfect addition to our much loved family longtail e-bike.
With thanks to @tomflood.bsky.social - we're spreading the word in Ireland!
With thanks to @tomflood.bsky.social - we're spreading the word in Ireland!
September 12, 2025 at 9:32 AM
The perfect addition to our much loved family longtail e-bike.
With thanks to @tomflood.bsky.social - we're spreading the word in Ireland!
With thanks to @tomflood.bsky.social - we're spreading the word in Ireland!
Given the compliance record of North Cork Creameries, these clearly read as empty words.
Irrespective of who is responsible for the fish kill, it's almost unsurprising it occurred given this level of non-compliance with EPA discharge licences. This must change.
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
Irrespective of who is responsible for the fish kill, it's almost unsurprising it occurred given this level of non-compliance with EPA discharge licences. This must change.
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
September 3, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Given the compliance record of North Cork Creameries, these clearly read as empty words.
Irrespective of who is responsible for the fish kill, it's almost unsurprising it occurred given this level of non-compliance with EPA discharge licences. This must change.
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
Irrespective of who is responsible for the fish kill, it's almost unsurprising it occurred given this level of non-compliance with EPA discharge licences. This must change.
www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
Not only that, but 363,000 litres of polluted waste was discharged before it was stopped. Why are we relying on inadequate 'visual' guides to determine if discharge is compliant? Surely there should be a more scientifically rigorous method, particularly for what appears to be a repeat offender.
September 1, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Not only that, but 363,000 litres of polluted waste was discharged before it was stopped. Why are we relying on inadequate 'visual' guides to determine if discharge is compliant? Surely there should be a more scientifically rigorous method, particularly for what appears to be a repeat offender.
And we know on foot of the Blackwater fish kill, that at the time of the kill, their discharge was 52 times the ammonia limit. Ammonia can be highly toxic to aquatic life. It may not have caused the Blackwater fish kill, but it can't have been healthy for the River Allow and its ecosystem.
September 1, 2025 at 5:18 PM
And we know on foot of the Blackwater fish kill, that at the time of the kill, their discharge was 52 times the ammonia limit. Ammonia can be highly toxic to aquatic life. It may not have caused the Blackwater fish kill, but it can't have been healthy for the River Allow and its ecosystem.
They were prosecuted by IFI in 2019, and then by the EPA in 2024. They've been on the EPA Priority List in both 2022 and 2024 on foot of a poor level of licence compliance.
www.epa.ie/news-release...
www.epa.ie/news-release...
September 1, 2025 at 5:18 PM
They were prosecuted by IFI in 2019, and then by the EPA in 2024. They've been on the EPA Priority List in both 2022 and 2024 on foot of a poor level of licence compliance.
www.epa.ie/news-release...
www.epa.ie/news-release...
July 7, 2025 at 9:31 AM