River Owenkillew Newtownstewart - 23 Oct 2016 v2 Remastered Short
This is a remastered video shot in 2016 of a day out spent walking the banks of the River Owenkillew, starting from the Killymore bridge and heading up-stream.
Owenkillew River
The Owenkillew River rises in the centre of the Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone and flows westwards to the River Strule, through mountain, rough pasture and then broad "holms" (or flood plains) forming part of the Lough Foyle system. It runs through Gortin village and meets with the River Strule in Newtownstewart.
The Owenkillew River is designated as a special area of conservation and is associated with several woodlands which in combination represent one of the best examples of old sessile oak wood in Northern Ireland. The woods contain a number of associated physical features, including waterfalls, gorges, cliffs and scattered boulder scree, which contribute to the diversity of the woodland communities. The woodland canopy is variable, but is generally dominated by sessile oak Quercus petraea with frequent downy birch Betula pubescens.
This spate river is noted for its run of sea trout, good grilse and salmon from mid-July on club stretches. The medium width (5- 20 meters wide) also holds good head of brown trout over its entire length and fantastic opportunities for the roaming trout angler, utilising dry fly techniques. The river meander through pleasant grassy hills and flood plains for most of its length.
The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera population, which is estimated to have a minimum number of 10,000 individuals, is confined to 4 km of undisturbed river channel in its upper reaches. It is the largest known population surviving in Northern Ireland.
Corrick Fish Counter
Built in Jan 1999 by the Loughs Agency, the counter spans 22m and covers the entire width of the river, 28.1m at its location. The counter has three channels of 10m, 4m and 8m, the first data was recorded on May 1999. From 2013 to 2017 the annual salmon count ranged from 482 fish in 2013 to 450 in 2017, both of which were only partial counts, the best year being 2015 with a salmon count of 1211 fish for the full year.
Glenelly River
The Glenelly rises high in the Sperrin Mountains, running westwards along a glaciated valley to meet the Owenkillew River downstream of Plumbridge at "The Meetings". The Owenkillew runs to meet the River Strule near Newtownstewart. The Glenelly is a spate river (5-20 meters wide) that has small wild brown trout and occasional larger specimens, but it is better known for salmon and sea trout fishing. Sea trout is best in June and July while grilse and salmon may be present from mid-June if there is sufficient water - however, salmon fishing is often best from August to October.
Omagh Anglers
One of the oldest and largest angling clubs in Northern Ireland with around 850 members. The club has access to fishing which extends from upstream of Omagh to down to below Newtownstewart taking in the rivers Drumragh, Camowen, Strule and the Owenkillew. This is one of the most prolific trout systems in Northern Ireland and it also receives large runs of salmon and sea trout.
The season extends from 1 April to 20 October with salmon coming into the system from mid-May onwards. If the river runs high then there are good runs of salmon throughout June, July and August. The larger salmon run the Owenkillew from September onwards. Some of the most popular salmon flies for the system are the Wye Bug, Curry’s Red Shrimp, Gold Shrimp and sometimes the Apache Bug.
Sea trout can usually be caught around Newtownstewart from June onwards with good patterns being the Black Pennell, Teal Blue and Silver, and the Peter Ross. The sea trout are generally of good average size, 1-2 pounds (½-1kg), but there is always the possibility of fish up to 5lb (2+kg).
Brown trout fishing on the system is top quality with abundant stocks of wild trout in the range of ¾-1½ pounds (0.3-0.7kg). In the past the club stocked catchable-size trout to supplement the wild stock but have been advised by the Loughs Agency that this is not necessary as survey results have indicated a prolific wild stock. The upper waters of the system around the town of Omagh on the Strule, Drumragh and Camowen constitute a superb trout fishery.
The flies best suited for brown trout vary with the season but some of the most popular patterns include: Iron Blue Dun, Blue Dun, Greenwell’s Glory, small and large Dark Olives, Nymphs, Sedges Wickham’s Fancy.
Non-Salmonid Fish Species
Population of other non-salmonid fish species occur within the Owenkillew and Owenreagh catchments. In the past Lough Agency monitoring was targeted at salmonid species however with obligations under the Water Framework Directive other non-salmonid fish species are being monitored more closely. Fish species presence and also abundance can act as a good ecological indicator demonstrating the ability of the aquatic habitat to support a diverse array of native species. Populations of the European Eel, three-spined stickleback, River/Brook and possibly Sea Lamprey form an important part of the native fisheries biodiversity of the Owenkillew and Owenreagh catchments. Maintaining high standards of water quality and appropriate habitat for these species is essential for the overall health of the river system
Rod Licence
A rod licence is required to fish on rivers and lakes (known locally as ‘loughs’) in the Loughs Agency area. This applies equally to those fishing for trout, coarse fish and salmon. These waters lie within the North West of Northern Ireland and form part of the Foyle and Carlingford catchments.
In addition to a rod licence, it is a requirement to hold a permit to fish on many stretches of river and on many of the lakes in the Foyle and Carlingford systems. These are often sold locally – at license distributors, tackle shops, and even the occasional rural hardware store and grocery shop! As an indication of affordability, a typical day permit costs in the region of £10.
Rod Licence Available from:
Loughs Agency, 22 Victoria Road,
L’Derry BT47 2AB
Tel: +44 (0) 28 7134 2100
RoI: +353 (0)48 7134 2100
Permit Required: Omagh Anglers control much of the fishing on the Strule but there are some private owners. Omagh Anglers issue day tickets and 14-day tickets, these can be obtained from:
David Campbell, Angler’s Rest, 12, Killymore Road, Newtownstewart
Tel: +44 (0) 28 81 661543.
C.A. Anderson, Tackle Shop, 64 Main Street, Omagh
Tel: +44 (0) 28 82 242311
Corrick (Corickmore) Abbey & Graveyard
Corrick, (aka Corickmore) Abbey & Graveyard overlooks the merging of the Owenkillew and Glenelly rivers in the parish of Bodoney Upper, located down a farm lane approximately 4.5km northeast of Newtownstewart turning right at the crossroads on the Newtownstewart to Plumbridge B47 Dergbrough Road.
The remains of a late 15th Century Franciscan friary, although a monastery may have existed here from as early as the 6th Century, dissolved c.1603. The church is 16.4m x 6.4m externally, aligned East-West. The East & West walls stand to 4m high. The East window was partially restored in the 1930’s and is in a style typical of Irish late c15th or c16th century work, consisting of 2 round headed lights with a circular opening above. Other architectural fragments can be found throughout the graveyard many reused by grave makers.
Davis (1937-8) recorded overgrown walls to the north of the present-day ruins which he interpreted as the possible remains of monastic buildings. Unfortunately, the location of the possible monastic buildings has made way for a concrete farmyard.
River Owenkillew Newtownstewart - 23 Oct 2016 v2 Remastered Short
This is a remastered video shot in 2016 of a day out spent walking the banks of the River Owenkillew, starting from the Killymore bridge and heading up-stream.
Owenkillew River
The Owenkillew River rises in the centre of the Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone and flows westwards to the River Strule, through mountain, rough pasture and then broad "holms" (or flood plains) forming part of the Lough Foyle system. It runs through Gortin village and meets with the River Strule in Newtownstewart.
The Owenkillew River is designated as a special area of conservation and is associated with several woodlands which in combination represent one of the best examples of old sessile oak wood in Northern Ireland. The woods contain a number of associated physical features, including waterfalls, gorges, cliffs and scattered boulder scree, which contribute to the diversity of the woodland communities. The woodland canopy is variable, but is generally dominated by sessile oak Quercus petraea with frequent downy birch Betula pubescens.
This spate river is noted for its run of sea trout, good grilse and salmon from mid-July on club stretches. The medium width (5- 20 meters wide) also holds good head of brown trout over its entire length and fantastic opportunities for the roaming trout angler, utilising dry fly techniques. The river meander through pleasant grassy hills and flood plains for most of its length.
The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera population, which is estimated to have a minimum number of 10,000 individuals, is confined to 4 km of undisturbed river channel in its upper reaches. It is the largest known population surviving in Northern Ireland.
Corrick Fish Counter
Built in Jan 1999 by the Loughs Agency, the counter spans 22m and covers the entire width of the river, 28.1m at its location. The counter has three channels of 10m, 4m and 8m, the first data was recorded on May 1999. From 2013 to 2017 the annual salmon count ranged from 482 fish in 2013 to 450 in 2017, both of which were only partial counts, the best year being 2015 with a salmon count of 1211 fish for the full year.
Glenelly River
The Glenelly rises high in the Sperrin Mountains, running westwards along a glaciated valley to meet the Owenkillew River downstream of Plumbridge at "The Meetings". The Owenkillew runs to meet the River Strule near Newtownstewart. The Glenelly is a spate river (5-20 meters wide) that has small wild brown trout and occasional larger specimens, but it is better known for salmon and sea trout fishing. Sea trout is best in June and July while grilse and salmon may be present from mid-June if there is sufficient water - however, salmon fishing is often best from August to October.
Omagh Anglers
One of the oldest and largest angling clubs in Northern Ireland with around 850 members. The club has access to fishing which extends from upstream of Omagh to down to below Newtownstewart taking in the rivers Drumragh, Camowen, Strule and the Owenkillew. This is one of the most prolific trout systems in Northern Ireland and it also receives large runs of salmon and sea trout.
The season extends from 1 April to 20 October with salmon coming into the system from mid-May onwards. If the river runs high then there are good runs of salmon throughout June, July and August. The larger salmon run the Owenkillew from September onwards. Some of the most popular salmon flies for the system are the Wye Bug, Curry’s Red Shrimp, Gold Shrimp and sometimes the Apache Bug.
Sea trout can usually be caught around Newtownstewart from June onwards with good patterns being the Black Pennell, Teal Blue and Silver, and the Peter Ross. The sea trout are generally of good average size, 1-2 pounds (½-1kg), but there is always the possibility of fish up to 5lb (2+kg).
Brown trout fishing on the system is top quality with abundant stocks of wild trout in the range of ¾-1½ pounds (0.3-0.7kg). In the past the club stocked catchable-size trout to supplement the wild stock but have been advised by the Loughs Agency that this is not necessary as survey results have indicated a prolific wild stock. The upper waters of the system around the town of Omagh on the Strule, Drumragh and Camowen constitute a superb trout fishery.
The flies best suited for brown trout vary with the season but some of the most popular patterns include: Iron Blue Dun, Blue Dun, Greenwell’s Glory, small and large Dark Olives, Nymphs, Sedges Wickham’s Fancy.
Non-Salmonid Fish Species
Population of other non-salmonid fish species occur within the Owenkillew and Owenreagh catchments. In the past Lough Agency monitoring was targeted at salmonid species however with obligations under the Water Framework Directive other non-salmonid fish species are being monitored more closely. Fish species presence and also abundance can act as a good ecological indicator demonstrating the ability of the aquatic habitat to support a diverse array of native species. Populations of the European Eel, three-spined stickleback, River/Brook and possibly Sea Lamprey form an important part of the native fisheries biodiversity of the Owenkillew and Owenreagh catchments. Maintaining high standards of water quality and appropriate habitat for these species is essential for the overall health of the river system
Rod Licence
A rod licence is required to fish on rivers and lakes (known locally as ‘loughs’) in the Loughs Agency area. This applies equally to those fishing for trout, coarse fish and salmon. These waters lie within the North West of Northern Ireland and form part of the Foyle and Carlingford catchments.
In addition to a rod licence, it is a requirement to hold a permit to fish on many stretches of river and on many of the lakes in the Foyle and Carlingford systems. These are often sold locally – at license distributors, tackle shops, and even the occasional rural hardware store and grocery shop! As an indication of affordability, a typical day permit costs in the region of £10.
Rod Licence Available from:
Loughs Agency, 22 Victoria Road,
L’Derry BT47 2AB
Tel: +44 (0) 28 7134 2100
RoI: +353 (0)48 7134 2100
Permit Required: Omagh Anglers control much of the fishing on the Strule but there are some private owners. Omagh Anglers issue day tickets and 14-day tickets, these can be obtained from:
David Campbell, Angler’s Rest, 12, Killymore Road, Newtownstewart
Tel: +44 (0) 28 81 661543.
C.A. Anderson, Tackle Shop, 64 Main Street, Omagh
Tel: +44 (0) 28 82 242311
Corrick (Corickmore) Abbey & Graveyard
Corrick, (aka Corickmore) Abbey & Graveyard overlooks the merging of the Owenkillew and Glenelly rivers in the parish of Bodoney Upper, located down a farm lane approximately 4.5km northeast of Newtownstewart turning right at the crossroads on the Newtownstewart to Plumbridge B47 Dergbrough Road.
The remains of a late 15th Century Franciscan friary, although a monastery may have existed here from as early as the 6th Century, dissolved c.1603. The church is 16.4m x 6.4m externally, aligned East-West. The East & West walls stand to 4m high. The East window was partially restored in the 1930’s and is in a style typical of Irish late c15th or c16th century work, consisting of 2 round headed lights with a circular opening above. Other architectural fragments can be found throughout the graveyard many reused by grave makers.
Davis (1937-8) recorded overgrown walls to the north of the present-day ruins which he interpreted as the possible remains of monastic buildings. Unfortunately, the location of the possible monastic buildings has made way for a concrete farmyard.