River permit confusion

Ive been doing a lot of fly fishing lately with the weed situation and have noticed that rivers I fished up to last year have now got signs up saying permit only ... I went to the sullane the other evening and got a permit which was grand then met two locals down fishing and they laughed when i mentioned the permit saying it was free water and always has been. This section is below the bridge coming into macroom. I also noticed a similar sign on the tidal stretch in tallow.Ive looked further into this and both waters are listed as free to fish on the discover ireland website although the sullane does mention that the macroom anglers have a conservation interest in the river.

If anyone has an insight id be greatfull.Just to add a day ticket is 12 on the bride but what took me was the club membership was 50 for an outsider and locals was 15 for the year....

The sullane is actually listed on the ifi website as permit water although nothing on the bride..