People across County Derry urged to 'flood the streets' for March for Lough Neagh

On May 17, people across the country are being encouraged to 'flood the streets' for a March for Lough Neagh, 40 years after a major march against Lignite mining took place on the same route. 

The march will leave the Battery Bar in Co.Tyrone and finish at Ardboe High Cross on the shores of Lough Neagh, and call for urgent environmental action and a drastic change of priorities on the government handling of the Lough Neagh crisis.

With toxic algae blooms set to return for a fourth year, the protest will unite families, swimmers, fishermen and more to walk for the rights of Lough Neagh and the right to clean water.

Organised by the Save Lough Neagh campaign and endorsed by a litany of social, political and environmental organisations, the march comes after years of protest action drawing attention to governmental failures in resolving the crisis at Lough Neagh. 

Presently, Lough Neagh is experiencing a collapse of biodiversity and extreme eutrophication, leading to spells where the Lough is coated in thick algal blooms with dead animals washing up along the shores. In February 2026, some signs of toxic algae appeared in spots around the shore, earlier than previous years.

The march has been endorsed by organisers of the original 1986 lignite protest, and they are expected to appear at the protest.

Pádraig Mac Niocaill, a spokesperson for Save Lough Neagh, said: "40 years ago this year, our communities stood against extraction in the form of Lignite mining. We stood against exploitation of our environment back then, and must do so against the crisis engulfing our lough now.

“Stormont has failed our Lough, putting private interests, profit and growth above our natural environment and rights to clean drinking water. Meanwhile the Earl of Shaftesbury continues to earn money on sand dredging, disturbing the fragile ecosystem, while holding the Lough back with demands that shouldn’t be his to make.

“The five main parties of Stormont who backed the disastrous Going For Growth agri-policy, continue to give rates relief and subsidies to massive polluters. Our water service, crippled by decades of Stormont underfunding, is not fit for purpose, with tap water in Mid Ulster regularly tasting foul, all while NI Water continues to empty untreated sewage in the Lough - Stormont must be held responsible for allowing this situation to escalate into a public health emergency. 

“Join us on May 17th, let's flood the streets and make it clear that enough is enough. It’s time to put people, wildlife and our environment before profit."

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Declan Coney, a Lough Neagh fisherman, said: “I was here at the very first lignite rally in 1986 where 3,000 people marched, fishing families, farming families, local communities all came here to say No, enough is enough to Lignite mining, and to any exploitation of the Lough at all. 

“For a 40th anniversary, we at least owe everybody who came down that path a gratitude of thanks. Our government has let us down constantly. Talk is cheap. Time for action now.”

Mary O’Hagan, Lough Neagh swimmer, added: “Even though winter is barely over, we are already getting reports of algae in places around the lough like Ballyronan. Join us on Sunday 17th May to show the world that enough is enough. We'll be at The Battery at 1pm and then marching to the Old Cross of Ardboe. Follow us on our socials, Save Lough Neagh on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to keep up to date with the campaign.”