Society was then given the rights to the fishing on the river and on the River Bann, all except the parts of the rivers owned by the Bishop of Derry. In 1944 an action for trespass was taken by the Society against a fisherman from Porthall who they deemed to be fishing illegally. The case was heard by Mr Justice George Gavan Duffy in the high court in Dublin during 1947–48. The case was dismissed against the man. The Society then appealed the decision and also appealed to both Northern and Southern Governments at losing the case. Both Governments agreed to buy the fishing rights for the sum of £110,280 on condition that they drop the appeal. This led to the establishment of a commission to oversee the fishing on the river and on Lough Foyle. The body set up was called the Foyle Fisheries Commission and was established by a Bill passed simultaneously by the Governments of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland on 25 March 1952. The Foyle Fisheries Commission was disestablished on 10 April 2007 with the signing of the Foyle & Carlingford Fisheries Act 2007. The Foyle is believed to be one of the best Atlantic Salmon rivers in Ireland. Details of the fishing regulations are available from the Loughs Agency. The village of St. Johnston, which lies on the County Donegal bank of the river, is a major fishing settlement on the Foyle. Area of Special Scientific Interest Railways The riverbank has the Belfast-Derry railway line providing a key link to the city of Derry. Trains bring passengers along on the Northern Ireland Railways service along the shoreline of Lough Foyle from onward stations such as Coleraine, Belfast Central and Belfast Great Victoria Street. See also Rivers of Ireland List of rivers of Northern Ireland References External links Salmon fishing on the Foyle System, from Salmon Ireland Foyle Foyle Foyle Foyle Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border