Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has announced details of its €30,000 Sponsorship Programme for 2024.

The programme is one of the main funding mechanisms used by IFI to promote sustainable angling in Ireland.

IFI invested in 71 angling events and initiatives across Ireland in 2023, including national or international competitions and festivals, coaching and juvenile outreach events, public awareness events, supporting international teams competing overseas and other angling-related initiatives.

The fund will have a particular focus on promoting sustainable angling tourism in rural areas while also supporting initiatives aimed at beginners and young anglers.

Launching the 2024 call, IFI’s head of finance and corporate services Suzanne Campion said: “We have the unique opportunity through the IFI Sponsorship Programme to support a driver of rural economic growth, to assist those who wish to go fishing for the first time, and to highlight the importance of biodiversity, conservation and sustainable recreational fishing.

“Angling can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, and one beginner’s fishing trip can turn into a lifetime recreational pursuit.”

Angling clubs, groups and associations nationwide are now invited to apply for sponsorship funding before the Friday 19 January deadline. Requests for equipment, staff support and biosecurity assistance can be made to IFI throughout the year.

Examples of teams, competitions and events that were awarded sponsorship by IFI in 2023 include:

• The National Junior Boat Fishing Competition, hosted by Newport Sea Angling Club in Mayo
• Lough Ree ‘King of the Lake’ International Pike Festival
• The World Feeder Club Championships at Lough Muckno, Co Monaghan
• Development days and coaching programmes held by fishing clubs nationwide
• The Rosslare Small Boats Festival in Wexford
• Irish youth international teams competing at Home Nations and World Championships in the Netherlands, Wales and Portugal

Over 327,000 adults in Ireland ‘go fishing’ (Ipsos/MRBI) while 18% of adults in Ireland that had never been fishing before said that they are “likely” to try angling in the future (Amárach Research).

Programme and application details are available on the IFI website HERE.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has announced details of its 2023 Sponsorship Programme today, with applications open until mid January.

Angling clubs, groups and associations all over Ireland are being invited to apply for sponsorship funding before the 20 January deadline.

In 2023, the €30,000 fund will have a particular focus on initiatives aimed at beginners and young anglers, as well as events that promote sustainable angling tourism in rural areas.

The sponsorship programme is one of the main funding mechanisms used by IFI, the State agency with responsibility for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats and the promotion of recreational angling.

IFI awarded funding to 50 angling events and initiatives across the country in 2022.

These included national or international competitions and festivals that showcased Ireland’s angling resources and contribution to local economies; coaching and juvenile outreach events were also supported, to help increase participation in the sport, along with public awareness events and angling-related initiatives.

This could be your angling competition in 2023, if your club submits an application for sponsorship support before the 20 January deadline

Launching the call, Suzanne Campion of IFI said: “Understandably, COVID-19 has had a big impact on the staging of events over the last couple of years.

“As we look ahead to 2023 with greater optimism, our top priority is supporting projects and events that encourage more young people and beginners to try angling sustainably, as well as initiatives that help grow sustainable angling tourism here in Ireland, especially in rural parts of the country.

“Our teams are seeing greater levels of interest in angling, especially when you consider the associated health and wellbeing benefits of being outdoors. For example, nearly one in five Irish adults are ‘likely’ to try angling in the future, according to Amárach Research.

“In addition to supporting those who would like to go fishing for the first time, we also have a unique opportunity through the Sponsorship Programme to highlight the importance of biodiversity, conservation and sustainable angling.”

Applications for funding from the Sponsorship Programme are now invited from angling clubs, associations or any local group organising an angling initiative in 2023.

The programme will remain open for funding applications until Friday 20 January. Meanwhile, applications for equipment, staff support and biosecurity assistance can be made to IFI throughout the year.

If your club or organisation would like to apply for support from the IFI Sponsorship Programme in 2023, you can find out more on the IFI website HERE.

Inland Fisheries Ireland has today (Wednesday 22 December) announced details of its 2022 Sponsorship Programme.

Angling clubs, groups and associations all over Ireland are being invited to apply for sponsorship funding before the 21 January deadline

In 2022, the €30,000 fund will have a particular focus on initiatives aimed at beginners and young anglers, as well as events that promote sustainable angling tourism.

Over 327,000 adults in Ireland consider themselves an angler, as noted in an Ipsos/MRBI poll, while 18% of adults in Ireland that had never been fishing before said that they are “likely” to try angling in the future, according to a survey by Amárach Research.

The sponsorship programme is one of the main funding mechanisms used by the State agency with responsibility for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats and the promotion of recreational angling.

Following a pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) awarded funding to 41 angling events and initiatives across the country in 2021. Among these, IFI supported 10 national or international competitions and festivals that showcased Ireland’s angling resources and contribution to local economies.

Meanwhile, a total of 28 coaching and juvenile outreach events were supported in 2021, to help increase participation in the sport, along with three public awareness events and angling-related initiatives.

Launching the call, Suzanne Campion of IFI said: “In 2022, our top priority is supporting projects and events that encourage more young people and beginners to try angling sustainably, as well as initiatives that help grow sustainable angling tourism here in Ireland.

“As more people enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of being outdoors, mainly driven by COVID-19 guidelines, we are seeing greater levels of interest in angling. For example, nearly one in five Irish adults are ‘likely’ to try angling in the future, according to Amárach Research.

“In addition to supporting those who would like to go fishing for the first time, we also have a unique opportunity through the Sponsorship Programme to highlight the importance of biodiversity, conservation and sustainable angling.”

Applications for funding from the Sponsorship Programme are now invited from angling clubs, associations or any local group organising an angling initiative in 2022. The programme will remain open for funding applications until Friday 21 January 2022.

Meanwhile, applications for equipment, staff support and biosecurity assistance can be made to IFI throughout the year.

More information about the Sponsorship Programme is available on the IFI website.

The Sponsorship Programme can not be used to fund or contribute towards capital projects such as acquiring or developing new or existing buildings, infrastructure development or acquiring/maintaining equipment.

The Sponsorship Programme is now open and you can apply by downloading the guidelines and application form below. Please read the Guidelines carefully to ensure that the application form is completed correctly and that the proposed sponsorship event meets the eligibility criteria.

Email [email protected] or Tel No +353 (0)71 96 50787

Closing date for receipt of completed application forms for the Waterways Ireland Sponsorship Programme is 13 December 2010 at 3pm. Incomplete or late applications cannot be assessed.