Derrydonnell-Athenry Gun Club
A rural club dedicated to habitat stewardship and building community relationships in County Galway.
Nearly fifty years of stewardship
Derrydonnell-Athenry Gun Club was formed in 1978, when a small group of local sportsmen came together in response to a decline in local game and wildfowl. With the goodwill of local farmers, they set out to restock, improve habitat, and give wild birds a better chance to thrive.
We are a club built on stewardship. Of the land we are fortunate to work on, of the wildlife that depends on it, and of the relationships that hold a rural community together. That is what guides everything we do.
Nearly fifty years on, the club brings together members of all ages and backgrounds, and some who helped shape it in the early years remain among its officers today.
Read our full history
Conservation first, in everything we do
Habitat & Conservation
Practical conservation work across the area: managing habitat, sowing wild bird cover, and protecting the conditions wildlife needs to thrive.
Cahertubber Lake Sanctuary
The wildfowl sanctuary the club restored in 2018, now a valued community amenity we continue to improve.
Community Contribution
Supporting the local community and welcoming people of all ages to enjoy the countryside responsibly.
Shooting & Game Management
Rough shooting and clay shooting, carried out responsibly and in keeping with our conservation values.
A sanctuary the club built
In 2018 the club restored Cahertubber Lake, a wildfowl sanctuary and a quiet place for the community to enjoy. Today it is the focus of a project to improve access and amenities for everyone.
Explore Cahertubber LakeOpening the lake up to everyone
The club is improving Cahertubber Lake and its surrounds so the whole community can enjoy them, with a focus on accessibility, conservation, and a space that is properly looked after. The work is underway, and the first element is already complete.
✓Resurfaced and extended carpark
Safe, level, accessible parking for every visitor to the lake.
Complete✓Wheelchair-accessible picnic benches
Placed for the best views, so the lake can be enjoyed by everyone.
Planned✓New estate fencing
Defining and protecting the site and giving it a cared-for finish.
Planned✓Educational and recognition signage
Sharing the story of the lake, its wildlife, and the people who support it.
Planned✓A duck-feeding station
The right food for the lake's waterfowl, good for the birds and the water.
Planned✓Habitat and conservation work
Opening up the view across the water and improving the site for wildlife.
PlannedA dedicated page with the full plans is available. If you would like to get involved or support the work, we would be glad to hear from you.
See the full plansThe countryside is better looked after together
We welcome new members of all ages and backgrounds, and we are keen to see more young people and women involved in the club. Membership is your way into the conservation, community, and shooting work we do, alongside people who care about the same things you do. If you would like to find out more, register your interest and we will be in touch.
Register your interestLooking after the countryside
Conservation is at the heart of what the club does. Our members give their time to habitat management, the sowing of wild bird cover, and predator control that protects vulnerable ground-nesting birds and other wildlife. This is steady, practical work, and it is part of how the club earns its place in the community.
Habitat & wild bird cover
Managing land and sowing cover crops that give wildlife food and shelter through the year.
Protecting vulnerable wildlife
Predator control and careful management that give ground-nesting and released birds a better chance.
Education & public benefit
Sharing the work with the community and opening the countryside to be enjoyed responsibly.
The work, through the seasons
A few moments from the club's conservation and habitat work, and from the lake the community enjoys.
Tell us you are interested
Use the form to register your interest in membership or to get in touch with the club. We will get back to you.