Anglers bring in more revenue in Ireland than golfers

Bold lettering on a quirky tee-shirt we saw a man wearing the other day declared that if you want to be happy for a day, get drunk, but if you want to be happy for life, take up fishing.

There was nothing about the ill-effects of a hangover — which would last for at least another day and a miserable one at that — but a recreational lifetime spent on a lake or a river doesn’t appear to have any downsides.

Born close to the Munster Blackwater, we can wistfully recall happy, youthful days on riverbanks and regret not having had the patience to persevere with rod and line. On occasion, however, it’s still a pleasure to head out.