Boyne Catchment

The Boyne catchment includes the area drained by the River Boyne and by all streams entering the tidal waters between The Haven and Mornington Point, Co. Meath. The Boyne Catchment area covers parts of several counties, including Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Kildare, Offaly, and Cavan. This covers a total area of 2,694km². The largest urban centre in the catchment is Drogheda. The other main urban centres are Navan, Trim, Kells Virginia, Bailieborough, Athboy, Kinnegad, Edenderry and Enfield. The Boyne Catchment is divided intom20 subcatchments and has 131 surface water bodies and 41 groundwater bodies. Of the 131 surface water bodies, 114 are river water bodies and 2 are canals, 11 lakes, 1 transitional and 3 coastal waterbodies.

The most recent EPA report “Water Quality in Ireland 2019-2024” showed that in the Boyne catchment 35% of surface water bodies are in Good/High ecological status which included 24% of river waterbodies, 45% of lakes, 66% of coastal waterbodies and the single transitional waterbody was at poor status. The campaign aims to support farmers to improve water quality where it is not yet satisfactory in areas where agriculture is an issue.

Read more about the Better Farming for Water campaign in the Boyne catchment in the Boyne Catchment Action Plan.