Birdwatchers and fowlers have formed a rare pact that has contributed to the success of a wildlife project that provides a habitat for thousands of birds and special facilities for birdwatchers.
The project, at Inch lake near Burnfoot in north Donegal, has been shortlisted for a special environment award after less than four years of development.
Fowlers who are permitted to shoot there have agreed on a reduced number of hours and fewer guns as part of a deal aimed at conserving the wildlife.
The project, developed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, is a finalist tonight in the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) awards for environmentally friendly developments at the Citywest Hotel near Dublin.
Seven projects are being considered for the top award from 87 nominations.
The Donegal project is the brainchild of the county's regional manager of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Joe Gatins. He came up with the idea 25 years ago but was unable to progress with it until a long-term lease on the targeted area was secured in 2003 from the owners of the lake and adjoining marshland, Donegal Creameries.
The 227-hectare (685 acre) site is contained within the embankments connecting Inch island to the mainland. It is about 60 per cent open water and 40 per cent marshland.
Mr Gatins claims it is now the premier wildlife site in Ireland. "It consistently holds large numbers of birds in internationally important numbers during the winter."
Latest counts revealed 6,000 whooper swans, 1,600 Greenland white-fronted geese and 4,000 greylag geese. Barnacle and brent geese are also present, as well as up to 500 mute swans. In summer there were 450 pairs of breeding sandwich terns.
Recently, a cattle egret, which is mainly found in central Europe, was seen there, and there was the first known sighting in Ireland of an American black duck.
Mr Gatins said: "We have the co-operation of the local community and agreement with wildfowlers and birdwatchers in using the site. It is a prime example of a swamp and lake being converted to an attractive amenity benefiting the community aesthetically and economically and contributing in no small way to the environment."