Fermoy Coarse Angling Association’s Tommy Lawton reports on the Fermoy Spring Festival, probably the longest-running festival in Ireland:
67th Fermoy Coarse Angling Association Spring Festival 2024, River Blackwater
On Monday 13th, Day 1, the river was in good condition, clear and at a good height, and the river fished reasonably well. Ken Pace won the day with 25lb 10ozs from Castlehyde, 2nd Simon Heaton with 16lb 12ozs, 3rd Neil Richards 15lb 4ozs both on C section below the Viaduct.
Wednesday, 15th, Day 2, the river was up and rising and presented difficult fishing conditions, but the catches slightly improved on Monday. Simon Heaton was the winner with 25lb, 2nd Neil Richards with 18lb both on the Meadows, 3rd Jurgen Opladen 14lb 4ozs from Castlehyde.
Friday 17th, final day, the river was again up overnight and very coloured, didn’t look like it would fish very well but it did, and once again some fantastic catches from A section. Winner was Martyn Highe with 27lbs 4ozs, joint 2nd John Moroz and Norman Thewlis with 24lbs.
Overall winners for the 67th Fermoy Spring Fertival 2024
1st SIMON HEATON 53lbs 0ozs
2nd MARTYN HIGHE 48lbs 02ozs
3rd KEN PACEY 45lbs 0ozs
The John Whitehouse Memorial Shield Pairs was won by, Ken Pacey and Nigel Hirst

On Tuesday 14th & Thursday 16th, which are the off days from the main festival, 16 anglers fished the river on Barnane, and 10 anglers fished the Garden Centre at Inniscarra.
River Match:
Day 1, Dave Jones winner with 9lb 10ozs, 2nd Dave Whitehouse 9lb 6ozs and 3rd was Dave Wray with 8lb 12ozs.
Day 2, Wayne Swinscoe with 9lb 14ozs, 2nd Dave Wray 7lb 14ozs, 3rd Alan Treadwell 7lb 2ozs.
Overall winner for River 2-Day.
1st Wayne Swinscoe, 18lb 2ozs
2nd Dave Wray, 16lb 10ozs
3rd Alan Treadwell & Terry Moroz 15lb 6ozs


Inniscarra 2-Day Match, Garden Centre:
Day 1, winner Neil Richards with 27.300, 2nd Nigel Hirst 22.280, 3rd Ian Daly 18.380.
Day 2, winner Neil Richards with a fantastic weight of 56.240, 2nd Jurgen Opladen 29.680, 3rd Nick Chaffer 17.160.
Overall winners for Inniscarra 2 day.
1st Neil Richards 83.540
2nd Jurgen Opladen 43.660
3rd Nigel Hirst 35.660

Fermoy Coarse Angling Association, thank the land and fishery owners, our sponsor The Cross Bar, Avondhu Bar, the Wagon Tavern, and Chris O’Donovan (Kipper) for the use of the wheelie boat.
We congratulate the winners of the Festival and all other winners during the week and we especially thank the anglers that continue to support our Festival despite the lack of accommodation in and around Fermoy.
