Sean Canney, Minister of State with responsibility for inland fisheries, has granted funding for 87 angling events and initiatives across the country during 2019.
The initiatives — which received financial grants through Inland Fisheries Ireland’s (IFI) Sponsorship Programme to the tune of €30,000 — support novice anglers and angling tourism.
Angling clubs and federations applied to the programme, which is a funding mechanism of the National Strategy for Angling Development, for support in hosting angling competitions, conservation events and novice coaching programmes.
This year, the IFI Sponsorship Programme is supporting:
- 45 angling competitions which showcase Ireland’s angling offering and contribute to local economies
- 37 coaching/juvenile events aimed at novice and young anglers with a view to increasing participation in the sport
- Five public awareness events and angling-related initiatives
Minister Canney said: “We hope that an additional 600 novice anglers will try the sport and over 1,500 experienced anglers will take part in competitions as a direct result of this sponsorship programme.
“Inland Fisheries Ireland has delivered financial support which will allow us to recruit new anglers and support initiatives which attract domestic and overseas angling tourism to rural communities.”
IFI chief executive Dr Ciaran Byrne: “This is our sixth year in a row of providing €30,000 per year in grants to help those who are partaking in angling for the first time and to support the angling community in promoting our wonderful angling product.
“The sponsorship programme is helping us realise some of the objectives of the National Strategy for Angling Development which aims to make angling accessible and attractive through information, infrastructure and support.”
A full list of projects and initiatives receiving funding is available on the IFI website.
