Thursday, February 11, 2010

LOOKING FORWARD TOO ANNUAL EASTER ANGLING FESTIVAL 2010.

Boyle and district angling club this year celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the club, and this is the 18th year for them to host their annual two day Easter pike angling festival which takes place on Lough key, Boyle County Roscommon on Saturday 3rd and Sunday the 4th of April 2010.
This is now one of the major events in the countries pike angling calendar. This competition attracts upward on 200 anglers annually. Anglers travel from near and far, Ireland, England, Germany and Holland to take part.

Over the years this competition has continued to grow, from both an angling perspective and the large number of spectators who come to see the fish weighed and enjoy the atmosphere and join in the banter and the fun associated with this event. This event is held at the Doon shore on the shores of Lough key, Boyle Co Roscommon, a most idyllic location. On the shore anglers and spectators can avail of lots of on site refreshment in the comfort of a tented village and this enhances the hospitality of the event.

Mark O Connor 2008 Stats man Kevin at work Paddy O Neill 2009

This festival provides opportunities for all anglers with its adult section (male and female), ladies section, junior section and special prizes for club members. This competition down through the years has being won by anglers of all ages, the youngest winner being Jim Suffin from Boyle back in 1998 to anglers who only fish once a year for the craic Mark o Connor and Brian Byford being two names that spring to mind, and this shows how fair and open this competition is.
The overall prize fund is €10,000 with the prizes in the main section being
· 1st prize - €3500 plus the Moonstone Jeweller’s Perpetual Cup. ( for the single heaviest fish)
· 2nd prize - €2500
· 3rd prize - €1250
Entry fee is €60 per angler for the two days (regardless of age) which represents good value for the prizes on offer.

It would not be possible to put up a prize fund of this magnitude without the continued support of the anglers who turn up year after year and the generous sponsorship of our local businesses.
The organising of this festival is major undertaking and without the help of a loyal workforce it would not be such a success. Without Our office staff, Stewart's, patrol teams, catering core, weigh masters and the officials from the Shannon regional fisheries board who oversee the event every year and provide officials at each weigh station such an event would not be possible.


The competition is a boat only event and the safety of our anglers is of utmost importance. We urge all our anglers to have and wear lifejackets at all times, we have safety officers, trained first aiders and a patrol boat on standby incase anyone gets in to difficulty. The welfare of our pike is also very important to us and we ask that all boats have suitable holding tanks. We support a strict catch and release policy and we ask all our anglers to support this.
Boyle and district angling club was founded in 1980, since that time the club has gone from strength to strength and provided much competitive angling and entertainment for its anglers over the years. In addition to the Easter competition the club runs 12 major competitions throughout the season and this includes junior competitions.
The club adopted a strict catch and release policy a number of years ago and we are delighted to see so many clubs are following our example. The club also purchased a patrol boat and have a number of waterkeepers appointed by the courts to monitor fishing and aid in the preservation of fish stocks.

This event is highly regarded within angling circles and it generates much needed business for the town of Boyle and its surrounding areas.
We are looking forward to another successful festival and meeting all our old friends and hopefully some new ones.
For further details on the Easter competition and all other club events you can log on to realboyle.com and click on the Boyle and district angling club link on the left hand side that will bring you to our website, also you can call Jane on 086 8301261



Accommodation available for the angling week end

Mary Cooney "Cesh Corran" 071 9662265
Royal Hotel 071 9662016
Riverdale House 071 9667012
Christine Mitchell "Abbey House" 071 9662385
Glencarne House 071 9667013
Forest park guest house 071 9662227
Micheal and Patrica Harrington "Linsford guest house" 071 9662866
Lough Key House 071 9662161

Limited Boat Hire available contact Jane Suffin 086 8301261
Fishing tackle and dead bait available on the shore.
Hot food available on shore on both days
Carrick on shannon is the next nearest town (ten Min's from boyle)

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