Church Leaders visit Lough Neagh

Church leaders visited the shores of Lough Neagh at Cranfield to observe water pollution and discuss the responsibility to care for the environment. The visit coincided with the Season of Creation, which uses the theme of living water this year.

The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference reported that leaders met with members of the Lower Bann community to hear about the difficulties facing people whose livelihoods depend on the local land and water. During the visit, pupils from Saint Patrick’s New Row Primary School in Castledawson used the Big River Watch App to monitor the condition of the lough, its wildlife, and signs of pollution.

This visit follows a January conference titled Let Justice Flow like Rivers, which brought together more than 200 Christians from various churches to study the crisis at Lough Neagh and discuss practical ways to care for creation. In a statement, the Church leaders noted that the Season of Creation encourages people to consider how consumption patterns affect the natural world and how to respond to pressures on waterways.