#Angling - Attending the Salon de la Pêche at Clermont-Ferrand in central France last weekend, Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd lent his support to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the Loughs Agency, Northern Ireland's Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and industry partners in promoting the island of Ireland an as an angling destination.
For the first time the three agencies came together under the ‘Angling in Ireland’ (or ‘Pêche en Irlande’) banner and hosted angling industry partners in a co-ordinated approach to attract greater numbers of French anglers to Ireland at the Clermont-Ferrand show - the largest angling show in France, attracting 30,000 visitors annually, and this year celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Minister O’Dowd and IFI chief Dr Ciaran Byrne were welcomed to the show by manager Clement Posada who hosted a lunch for the guests, sponsors and various national presidents of the main French angling federations.
Claude Roustan, president of the National Federation of Angling in France, welcomed the minister and announced that they were honored by the visit from Ireland where he himself had enjoyed many wonderful angling holidays.
The minister welcomed the close ties between French anglers and Ireland, stating that "some of the best of Ireland’s angling products are being promoted here today. It is our intention to attract more French anglers to come to Ireland to enjoy the wonderful fishing, scenery and hospitality that Ireland has to offer."
Commending the joint approach of IFI, DCAL and the Loughs Agency, he noted that "both Minister O Chuilin and I are delighted to see this whole of Ireland approach to angling marketing and we look forward to increased tourism angling and the associated economic benefits which will undoubtedly follow."
Dr Byrne, meanwhile, referred to last summer's socio-economic study that put the value of angling to the Irish economy at more than €750 million.
"I would like to thank the many French anglers that return to Ireland regularly to enjoy their sport and of course the Irish welcome, we look forward to welcoming you and all of your friends again in the future," he added.
