#Angling - Four fishing clubs have been announced as finalists in Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Fish & Film Competition.
Junior members of Ballyshannon and District Angling Association in Co Donegal, Newport Sea Angling Club in Co Mayo, Whitelake Angling Club in Co Westmeath and the Sphere 17 Youthgroup in Darndale, North Dublin submitted entries which are being showcased online.
These clubs will now progress to the next stage of the competition, launched in June to encourage young people to spread the word about fishing.
Ballyshannon and District Angling Association’s film entry focused on a junior fishing day held at Lough Unshin, while Whitelake Angling Club’s submission shows young angling enthusiasts enjoying a quiet day’s fishing and presenting the viewer with their skills.
Newport Sea Angling Club’s entry highlighted the club’s recent National Junior Competition and Daniel Peacock Memorial event held in July, with all the excitement of a real competition day, while Sphere 17’s film take viewers on a sea angling trip off the East Coast.
The clubs are now appealing to the public to watch and share their film entries. The finalists will go forward to a junior fishing competition where they will compete against other entrants to be in with a chance of winning the top prize of €1,000 fishing tackle voucher for their club, or one of the €250 runner-up prizes which are also up for grabs.
“It is fantastic to hear from the next generation of anglers to find out more about what drives them to keep up fishing,” said IFI’s head of business development Suzanne Campion. “These entries really give a taste of what fishing is all about for junior anglers - I would like to commend them on their fantastic entries and wish them the best of luck at the next stage of the competition which sees them enjoying a free day’s fishing.”
The Fish & Film competition supports the objectives of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s National Strategy for Angling Development, which aims to make angling accessible and attractive to all while establishing it as a key leisure pursuit.
There are currently 273,000 domestic anglers in Ireland, and IFI aims to grow participation rates by 0.5% annually.
Visit the IFI website for more information on the competition.
