Dan O’Neill of South East Casting sent us in his report on the Irish Fly fair which was held in Enniskillen last weekend:

So that’s it for another year. It seems like you get to say hello to your fellow teammates and friends and then its goodbye as all what happens in between becomes a fond memory. The event this year was everything I had hoped for and more. I got to cast with some new people and also some familiar faces. I had promised to call back to many people at the fair but ended up out on the grass casting, helping people with slight faults they felt that they had.

I spend a lot of time watching casting videos and most things fly fishing and fly tying. To go and see the faces that create the magic works of art at the fly vice or produce artistic casting strokes with fantastic loops is mesmerising. Speaking to such people they make it look and sound so easy, they spend endless time explaining to enthusiasts how they create such art. The Irish fly fair truly brings out the people who are passionate about their sport and want to ensure its future for generations to come.

The level of modesty the exhibitors had made it so much easier to learn from them and listen to them. The trade stands made an immense effort and put on fantastic displays, they really interacted with their customers and welcomed them. The stands for all the different organisations were superb, with each giving out information on their work, greeting everyone with a smile and speaking about the fantastic things that they do. I managed to walk around a couple of times to have a talk to people I usually only get to speak to over the phone or by email.

It was great to see so many youths at the event and watch them learn and perhaps one day they will be sitting here writing something like this or casting/tying at a fly fair passing on their knowledge to the next generation. The organisation I am a part of APGAI Ireland had a fly-tying table inside and held the Peter O’Reilly fly tying competition which was superb.

Trevor Greene, Arthur Greenwood and Trevor Norris were just brilliant. The way they worked with the kids made me very proud to be a part of the organisation. My fellow casters outside also worked brilliantly and to see the way they teach and to watch them cast makes it an honor to be in APGAI. Ray McKeeman and Andy cooper did a great job with the kids casting and watching them teach was warming, it was very obvious watching them that they had a true passion for fly fishing and teaching the art.

The drive home to Kilkenny was full of memories from the fair, some I would smile fondly over and some I will never forget. Of course, a certain sadness loomed when I saw a sign for Kilkenny and realised the Irish Fly Fair 2024 had come to an end although it wasn’t long before my smile rekindled as I realised now the prep begins for the Irish fly fair 2025.

I’d like to thank Stevie Munn and his team for the invitation and giving me the opportunity to demonstrate. James Robbins from Cadence also for the support and allowing me to be part of the Cadence team and Yeti who sent me some very popular cups to give out at the fly fair to the youths of the sport and even some spare ones for the slightly older members of our sport. Finally, a huge thanks to Killyhevlin hotel, all the staff were so helpful and courteous.