Newport SAC hosted the 57th Newport Sea Angling Festival over the recent August Bank Holiday weekend. Due to the high demand for spaces, it was decided by the committee to send the Junior Anglers out on Saturday 5th of August and the Senior Anglers out on Sunday 6th of August. Check in on the Saturday began from 9.30am onwards at Newport Quay. There was a great buzz of excitement as the young anglers, filled with freshly cooked sausage rolls, boarded the boats to begin their days fishing.

A group of Junior Anglers who participated in the recent 57th Newport SAC Festival Competition 2023 on Saturday 5th August

A number of the junior anglers were from the UK and quite a few of those participating were heading to sea for their very first time! Escorted out the Newport channel by the Achill RNLI Lifeboat, the boats slowly scattered to the various fishing grounds, each one hoping to have better fishing than their rivals for the day.

There was very little between each of the boats at the end of the days fishing but the Junior Angler to emerge as the overall winner was Cian Moran from Newport SAC. Cian had 22 fish and won the Margaret Moran Memorial Trophy, replica, rod & reel (which had been sponsored by Peter Moran, husband of the late Margaret Moran – a former long serving secretary of the club for many years). What made the win even more special for Peter was that the trophy remained in the village of Ross for the year! All of the other days junior results are available on the Newport SAC website Results page.

Cian Moran was the overall Junior winner of the 57th Newport SAC Festival Competition and received the Margaret Moran Memorial Trophy, replica, rod & reel set and sports voucher. Cian had 23 fish & 135 pts on the day and was also crowned as the club Junior Master Angler for 2023.

The committee were back in action again on the Sunday morning cooking a hot breakfast and making tea for all the anglers before they boarded the boats (thanks especially to Irene! – our club chef!). The crowds on the quayside slowly made their way to the boats. Shouts of ‘good luck’ and ‘tight lines’ could be heard between the boats as they left the quay wall, nudged their way out the river and onwards towards the outer bay. 

Tom Holmes was the winner of the Novice Boys section with 10 fish & 50 pts and received the Richard Steer Memorial Shield, replica, rod & reel set and a sports voucher. The prizes were presented by Sue Steer (sponsor) & Frank Chambers (Chambers Auctioneers).

The weather could have been a bit better and we also had to battle the strong tides throughout the day. Each boat reported a decent catch on their return and it quickly became apparent that the days competition was going to be a close affair. Newport SAC local angler Joe McManaman emerged as the overall winner and received of the Tom Moran Memorial Trophy, replica and accommodation voucher when he won the clubs long running Festival competition. Joe had a total of 21 fish and 155 points on the day. Runner up was Peter Coyne from Killala SAC with 26 fish and 150 points (just one fish behind the winner!).

Local angler Joe McManaman was the overall winner of the 57th Newport SAC Festival Competition seen here being presented with the Tom Moran Memorial trophy by Bella Moran and Shane Gilvarry. Joe had 21 fish and 155 points on the day and also received a decanter, set of crystal glasses and a two nights stay in Mary’s of Mulranny.

For a list of all the results please visit https://www.newportseaanglingclub.com/pages/results or see below:

The results of the 57th Newport SAC Annual Festival Competition were as follows:

Seniors Category:                                Fish        Points

  • Overall Winner   Joe McManamon          21           155
  • 2nd Place           Peter Coyne                 26           150
  • 3rd Place            Irene Walsh                  14            90
  • 4th place             Darragh McGee           12            90
  • 5th Place            Sean Kilroy                   11             85 
  • 6th Place            David Nevin                  12             80
  • 7th Place            Paul Ruddy                   12             80
  • 8th Place            Jason Moran                 15             75
Kilalla SAC angler Peter Coyne was the runner up in the 57th Newport SAC Festival Competition seen here being presented with the Tyrell O’Malley cup by Shane Gilvarry (Newport SAC). Peter had 26 fish and 150 points on the day and also received a set of crystal glasses and a voucher from Westport Hotel Group.

Overseas Category – Seniors:           Fish       Points

  • 1st Place   –   Joseph O’Brien                  7             65
Joseph O’Brien was the Senior Overseas winner of the 57th Newport SAC Festival Competition.

 Overseas Lady Category:                  Fish       Points

  • Winner   –   Sarah O’Brien                       5             25
Sarah O’Brien was the Best Overseas Lady and is seen here receiving her prize from Committee member Jason Moran.

 Best Senior Lady Category:                  Fish       Points

  • Winner   –   Lauren Coyne                       5             25
Lauren Coyne was the Best Senior Lady and is seen here receiving her prize from Committee member Shane Gilvarry.

Largest Fish Category:

  • Largest Bullhuss   –     Pat Sammon    (44″)

 Juniors Category:                                  Fish       Points

  • 1st Place         Cian Moran                       23         135
  • 2nd Place        Thomas O’Brien               19          125
  • 3rd Place         Daithi Nevin                     19          115
  • 4th Place         Shane Durkan                  11           75
  • 5th Place (Joint)  Darragh Mulchrone      14           70
  • 5th Place (Joint) Conor Dunleavy            14           70
  • 6th Place         Sean Nevin                      10           50
Thomas O’Brien was runner up in the Junior section with 19 fish & 125 pts and received the Cunningham Shield, replica and voucher from Club President Pat Moran

 Junior League Category:                              Fish       Points

  • Winner –          Cian Moran                               29           185
  • Runner-Up  –   Daithi Nevin                              25           165

 Overseas Junior Category:                              Fish       Points

  • Winner –         Martha O’Brien                               5           55
Martha O’Brien was the Junior Overseas overall winner receiving her prize from Committee member Jason Moran.

 Junior Novice Category:                              Fish       Points

  • Winner – Tom Holmes                                     10             50
  • 2nd Place – Jack O’Haire                                8              40
  • 3rd Place – James McNulty                            7              35
  • 4th Place – Eoghan Collins                             3              30
  • 5th Place – Anthony McNeela                         5              25
  • 6th Place – Finn Grealis                                  4              20

Best Junior Lady Category:           Fish      Points

  • Winner              Shauna Moran            10            50

 Junior Largest Fish Category:

  • Largest Ray   –   Thomas O’Brien   (20″)
  • Largest Bullhuss   –   Cian Moran   (28″)

 Skipper of the Day (Saturday)  –   Joe Gibbons – The Finnaun

Skipper of the Day (Sunday)  –   Tom Moran – The White Water II

The club would like to thank all sponsors for their generosity, as without their support, the competition would not have taken place. In particular we would like to thank our main sponsors as follows:

Bella Moran (Main Trophy Sponsor), Sue Steer (Novice Category Sponsor), Sean Kilroy (Main Trophy Sponsor), Clr Brendan Mulroy (Main Club Sponsor), Peter Moran (Main Trophy Sponsor) Mary’s of Mulranny (Competition Sponsor), Nevins Bar (Competition Sponsor), Inland Fisheries Ireland, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Westport Hotel Group, Sheridan’s Centra,  Pat Moran, Futura Flooring, Attracta’s Laundrette, Newport Pharmacy, Grainne Uaille, Patricia Sheridan Fashions, Bridge House Salon, Wyatt Hotel, Gerry Hassett, Corcoran’s Drapery, Alan Leneghan, Tracks & Treasures, Castlebar Fishing Tackle,

We would also like to thank our Skippers for their help over the two days, Declan, Sean and the staff of Nevins Bar, those who presented prizes, anyone who helped to supply bait, etc.

A special thank you to the members of the local Coast Guard and the Achill Lifeboat who arrived on the morning of the Junior Competition and provided the Juniors with a tour of the lifeboat. The club is organising an RNLI church gate collection on the weekend of the 9th & 10th of September. Please support this very worthy cause.

Please contact any member of the club if you wish to get involved in helping out at any of our events throughout the year!

We are now taking entries for our next competition scheduled for 17th of September. Contact Sean on 087 0644601 or any member of the committee for more details or to book in.