IRELAND’S match fishing in Ireland is growing and so is the amount prize money. This year there will be around £340,000 paid out from sponsorship, the return of entry fees and optional pools.
And yet the money isn’t the biggest attraction – it is the extraordinary consistency of the fishing and the famous Irish ‘craic’ that is inevitable when a group of like-minded anglers go on holiday.
There are more roach, hybrids, skimmers, bream and perch, throughout the country and they are fodder to the rising number of matchmen opting for real traditional style fishing; some of them spending a month or more ‘on the circuit’.
There are angling festivals from April through to October – mainly five-day events from Monday to Friday – covering rivers, lakes and canals; so there is certainly plenty of variety and availability.
Three brand new sponsored festivals have appeared on the 2009 list, the first being the Portumna International on the Lower Shannon with €1,000 sponsorship from Shannon Oaks Hotel.
It is a four-day competition timed to coincide with the rivers very best fishing as masses of big roach and hybrids pack in the Shannon prior to spawning.
Anyone looking for a two-week break could extend their stay and compete the following week in the Banagher Festival, which uses the same venues.
Famous Ballinamore in County Leitrim stages its first major angling competition on five different waters around the town from June 8-12, while throwing €1,500 into the pot with a promise to return all entry fees and optional pools.
Thirdly, Killeshandra Angling Club is sponsoring a brand new four day festival on the well know Lough Oughter waters that are capable of chucking up a few really big weights. It starts on July 21.
Interested? Your next step is to contact the various organisers (contact details are shown) to ensure there are tickets available and then organise your travel and accommodation.
COARSE Angling Festivals 2009
April 20-23 Portumna International Angling Festival
Fishing on the Lower Shannon
Anglers World Holidays 01246 221717
April 27-1 May Banagher Festival
River Shannon, Co Offaly
Anglers World Holidays 01246 221717
April 27-1 May Waterways of Ireland Fermanagh Classic.
River Erne, County Fermanagh.
Fermanagh Tourism 0286 6325050
Anglers World Holidays 01246 221717
Ireland Travel 01322 559059 or 07736 129627
May 4-8 Mahon’s Festival
River Erne, Co Fermanagh
Ireland Travel 01322 559059 or 07736 129627
May 11-15 Gold Cup
River Erne, Co Fermanagh
Ireland Travel 01322 559059 or 07736 129627
May 18-22 Boswell’s Festival
River Erne, Co Fermanagh
Ireland Travel 01322 559059 or 07736 129627
May 25-30 Erne Rose Bowl
River Erne, Co Fermanagh
Ireland Travel 01322 559059 or 07736 129627
May 25-29 Gowna Seniors Festival
Lakes around Gowna
Andy Bettinson 07967 690755
May 30 June 2-4 Prosperous Gala.
Grand Canal, Co Kildare.
Dermot O’Farrell 0353 45 868955
June 1-3-5 Edenderry Festival.
Grand Canal, Co Offaly.
Pauric Kelly 00353 86 3503117
June 1-5 Stena Challenge
Five different lakes around Gowna & Carrigallen
Anglers World Holidays 01246 221717
June 8-12 Ballinamore Spring Festival
Five different lakes around Leitrim
Anglers World Holidays 01246 221717
July 21-24 Killeshandra Angling Festival
Local lakes
Telephone 00353 87931 1467
July 27-30 Belturbet Summer Festival
Local lakes
Mark Renshaw 00353 87 6166837
July 31- 3 August Clones Festival
Local lakes
Donal McQuirk 00353 86 8371169
August 31-4 September Belturbet Autumn Festival
Local lakes
Mark Renshaw 00353 87 6166837
August 31- 4 September Gowna Festival
Local lakes, Co Cavan
Andy Bettinson 07967 690755
September 7-11 Tennants Arva Festival
Local lakes, Co Cavan.
Eamonn Gray 00353 494335127
September 14-18 King of Clubs
Cavan and Leitrim Lakes.
Irish Ferries Holidays 08705 171717
September 21-25 Monaghan Pairs
Lough Muckno, Co Monaghan.
Anglers World Holidays 01246 221717
September 21-25 Cootehill Championship
Local lakes, Co Cavan.
Eileen Smith 00353 49 5553039
Anglers World Holidays 01246 221717
September 21-25 Carrick-on-Shannon Festival
River Shannon, Co Leitrim.
Charlotte Fearon 00353 71 9620313
September 27-2 October Carrigallen Festival
Local lakes near Carrigallen
Ann McGovern 00353 49 4339938
Cork Angling Festivals 2009
Inniscarra Lake
Callaghan’s Open (3 days) May 31- 2 June
O, Callaghan’s Cup (3 days) June 4- 6
August Open (1 day) August 29
Vintners Cup (3 days) August 30-1 Sep
Ottewill Trophy (3 Days) September 2- 4
Anglers World Holidays 01246 221717
USEFUL CONTACTS
Irish Bait & Tackle Limited
For delivery of maggot, worm, caster and groundbait, to stockists across
Ireland. Tel: 00353 499526258 or visit www.irishbaitandtackle.com
Click on total-fishingclub.com’s FREE match fishing calendar
