#ANGLING - Hooked Live!, Ireland’s premier angling and fishing show, is returning to the CityWest Hotel and Lakes this weekend 10-11 March for the third year running.

Spey caster and innovator Ian Gordon is the latest star to join the already confirmed visitor favorites Paul Young, Henry Gilbey, Scott MacKenzie, Andrew Ryan and AGPAI Ireland, who will bring world-class casting demonstrations, talks and personal one-to-one sessions designed to improve and empower visitors to become better anglers.

Bringing the best in Irish angling water sports, with new tackle, venues and angling techniques, Hooked Live! also caters for the fly-fishing enthusiast with fly-tying and casting lessons.

And that's not to mention fly-fishing on our fully stocked lake, where both trout and perch will readily take a fly. Indeed, there are many top prizes to be won in the Lakes Fishing Challenge.

Sea anglers are also catered for and welcome at Hooked Live! and for the coarse fisher, there will be top class exhibits with great tackle and equipment available and a range of venues which will produce results.

Popular seminars will also cover some of the new and successful tackle and techniques which are now being used to catch more fish.

Also returning to Hooked Live! will be the Sporting Gun Show. Taking advantage of the synergy between shooting and fishing, visitors will be able to pick up bargains on end-of-shooting-season stock.

Tickets for Hooked Live! 2012 are priced from just €10 and are available now from tickets.ie. For more details visit the official website at www.hooked.ie

#ANGLING - The Irish Fly Fair and Angling Show at the Galway Bay Hotel next weekend be "the biggest of its kind in Ireland", hosting the largest number of fly tyers and trade stands from over 15 countries, according to organisers.

The two-day exhibition, now in its second year, will welcome some of the world's top fly tyers and angling celebrities to Salthill.

As with the first event last November, visitors will have the opportunity to learn from the world's best fly dressers and casters, with tuition provided by APGAI Ireland.

Returning angling celebs Hywel Morgan, Glenda Powell, Stevie Munn, Paddy McDonnell, Peter O’Reilly will be joined by newcomer Scott MacKenzie to advise on all aspects of fly fishing.

Among the new events this year is the youth fly tying competition, giving younger anglers a chance to show the pros what they can do.

Experts from Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Wild Trout Trust and many more will also be hosting talks and seminar on various angling-related topics. 

And all that is aside from the huge trade aspect of the weekend.

"Building on the success of last year’s show, where business was brisk, the 2011 show has attracted trade from all over Europe who are keen to come to Galway and exhibit to the Irish market," said organiser Grace McDermott. 

For more details on the second annual Irish Fly Fair and Angling Show visit www.irishflyfair.com.

Lord Mayor of Dublin and Admiral of Dublin Port, Gerry Breen, performed the 523 year-old "Casting of the Spear" ceremony in Dublin Bay on midsummer's day, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 'casting' for yesterdays' re-enactment by the Lord Mayor took place onboard the Dublin port Company tug Shackleton.

From the deck of the Spanish built 50-tonne bollard pull tractor-tug, a spear was launched into the sky and fell deep into the cold water's of Dublin Bay. The ceremony once again marked the position of the city boundaries eastwards.

The medieval tradition of 'Casting of the Spear' dates back to 1488 when the then Lord Mayor, Thomas Mayler, set out on his horse to ride the city's boundaries.

According to historical records he rode out onto the strand as far as a man might ride and from there he cast a spear into the sea. At that time, casting the spear demonstrated the extent of the city boundaries eastwards.

The tradition marks one of many significant moments in Dublin Port's long history since its establishment as a trading post some 1,200 years ago.

Live fishing lessons for beginners of all ages will be a feature of the 2011 Ireland Angling Expo.

The two-day event on 12-13 February at the National Show Centre in Swords will include a fishing area hosted by the Dublin Angling Initiative aimed at encouraging youngsters to pick up the rod.

There will be workshops and live demonstrations for all skill levels in game, coarse and sea fishing, as well as the art of fly tying. Beginners can also learn the basics of casting and make sense of rods and reels and other equipment. 

For more on the 2011 Ireland Angling Expo visit www.irelandanglingexpo.ie

Most of the top names in fly tying and angling will be in Galway this November for the inaugural Irish Fly Fair say Galway organisers. Well known game angler Stevie Munn will be in town in partnership with Irish Angler magazine. The event sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland has succeeded in attracting many of the world's best fly tyers and anglers – including the top Irish ones – to what promises to be a great weekend for anglers and their families.

Centerpiece of the event will be the fly tying area, where over 30 world class experts will give demonstrations of their art and skill, as well as lessons in the techniques of constructing Salmon, Trout, Pike and Saltwater flies.

In addition there will be casting demonstrations by World renowned Fly Casters and also instruction from fully qualified instructors.
For those looking for Christmas gifts, there will be a wide range of tackle and other retailers with lots of bargains on offer.

There will be lots for the family too. For the first time ever in Ireland French firm Scatri will be letting people practice their angling skills on their range of fishing simulators. Galway Aquarium will allow visitors to see the wide range of fish and other creatures that live in our waters up close and personal and also an expert on entomology will be there. Galway Bay FM will broadcast live from the event on Saturday. Chef Chris Sanford will prepare a number of haddock recipes throughout the weekend, to complement Bord Bia's current promotional campaign to increase the awareness, and Irish consumer's consumption, of haddock.

More information HERE