The Kells Angling Association are busy preparing to host over 50 international youth anglers on their club waters on the Kells Blackwater, Co Meath. These top flight anglers from 10 different countries are participating in this year’s World Youth Fly Fishing Championship. Club youth spokesman Pat McLoughlin said “the club are very happy to be involved in this event which will let everyone see the quality of wild brown trout fishing available on the Kells Blackwater and in the Boyne Valley area. The Kells Blackwater is one of the country’s premier wild brown trout rivers and we are delighted to be hosting the practice day for this great event. We are heavily involved in the development of youth angling at the club and hope that people will come along to support the international youth teams at this great event”.
This year the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland (TAFI) is hosting the prestigious Fédération International de la Pêche Sportive (FIPS) Mouche, 12th World Youth Fly Fishing Championship 2013, for the second time. This year’s Youth Championship has been jointly organized by the Ulster and Leinster Councils of TAFI and is being run on a cross border basis between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The event is being fished in the North and East from 21st to 26th July and up to 9 International fly fishing teams will be competing, including teams from, the USA, Canada, South Africa, Spain, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Scotland and Ireland. Competition venues are spread over the five counties of Antrim, Louth, Monaghan, Meath and Tyrone and include two rivers and three lakes. Daily fishing sessions will be fished at venues north and south of the border on the River Fane, Quiggery River, Loughmacrory, Woodford Fishery and Eskragh Lough. Practice days are being hosted by the Kells Angling Association on the Kells Blackwater in Co Meath and the Emy and District Anglers on Emy Lough in Emyvale, Co Monaghan. Competing teams and individuals will be fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout and an official practice day will be held on Emy Lough and the Kells Blackwater on Monday 22nd July. The official practice day is then followed by three days of competitive fishing.
William Walsh, ERBD Director Inland Fisheries Ireland said “IFI are delighted to be involved with this event and would like to thank all concerned for their efforts in securing and organising the event. We are looking forward to welcoming all of the teams and their families and friends to the north east and wish all the young competitors well in the upcoming event. We hope that they enjoy the top quality trout fishing available in the area and enjoy the hospitality of a real Irish welcome. The hosting of this event is the result of many years of dedicated voluntary work by TAFI members, both promoting youth angling within Ireland and in the training of the Irish Youth Team to fish in all the World Championships since they began in 1998. This is a great opportunity for us to showcase the quality of trout fishing available here.”
The opening ceremony takes place in Dundalk, County Louth on 21st July with the Carrickdale Hotel situated on the border as the championship headquarters. The marvellous setting of Hillsborough Castle, County Down hosts the official closing ceremony, the awarding of medals and a Conservation Symposium on 26th July.
Inland Fisheries Ireland, with the assistance of all stakeholders including the World Youth Fly Fishing Championship Organising Committee, DCAL and the Loughs Agency, clubs, teams and anglers will be also be advising on bio security measures to be implemented at the event and providing disinfectant facilities at all of the designated competition locations. These measures will ensure best practice and help prevent the inadvertent introduction and transfer of invasive plants and animals and harmful pathogens which represent major threats to Ireland’s habitats, native species and internationally renowned fisheries.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the Loughs Agency and DCAL along with a number of businesses and individuals have sponsored the event which is also part of the “Gathering” 2013.
In addition to the opportunity to showcase the quality of Irish angling, the World Youth Fly Fishing Championships will be providing a tourism dividend for many local and rural communities north and south of the border. Many of the visiting teams will be arriving well in advance of the event and some will be staying on long after the event is over. It is hoped that their experiences during their visit will prompt and promote further visits into the future.
