The welcome news that Inland Fisheries Ireland are to sponsor the European Police Coarse Angling championships scheduled for 5^th and 6^th October 2012 was announced this week and comes as a massive boost to the successful hosting of this prestigious event.

Over the weekend 13^th to 15^th April 2012, a total of 15 delegates from Europe attended at the Glencarn hotel in Castleblayney to plan the event alongside the team from An Garda Siochana who have responsibility for its efficient and smooth execution.

All of the delegates to a man praised the wonderful warm welcome and help extended to everyone, from courtesy pick up and drop off at Dublin airport by six volunteer cars, to the guided visits to the Lough Muckno sites, the on hand boat guiding service and the wonderful food and entertainment laid on at a  number of locations.

Many of the hotels, guesthouses and self catering locations were visited with nothing but positive reaction, to the extent that a large number of the participants spontaneously extended their trips for a further week.

The response was so good that it now looks like 22 teams of five will be in attendance in the area for a period of approx ten days, with many team members, spouses and friends spending a further 7 days after the event.

This is an unprecedented feature of any such event held on a rotational basis throughout Europe over the last 10 years and the enthusiasm shown in all of what we have to offer, is quite remarkable.

An indication of the approval level is that the Dutch group alone will now consist of five teams of five and a further 15 wives and followers will travel and be in attendance in this area over this ten day period.

Similarly Belgium fielding only one team of five has 17 people travelling in its group for a period of 10 days.

Since returning home on Sunday evening last, the Italian delegation has announced that a total of three teams of five and entourage will travel to Ireland but will now be accompanied by a large group of non police anglers who will practice the soon to be developed angling facilities in Castleblayney adjacent to the venue, while on as a fact finding mission there.

It is confidently expected that the event will amount to filling of a minimum of 1600 bed nights in the local region with a colossal spend on food, drink,  entertainment, bait, tackle and other services along with the unusually large crowd of non angling companions and friends in attendance and spending on other general items.

The event will also feature a reception for the teams and entourage at the Glencarn hotel on Wednesday 3^rd of October and a celebration Banquet on the closing night 6^th October 2012.

This final function is expected to be attended by the Divisional Garda chief, the CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland and possibly by the minister of State at The Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources all of whom will be invited, along with a number of other persons from Local/County Council and voluntary bodies working to make the event a huge success.

The organising committee of the European Angling event extends our sincere thanks to Inland fisheries Ireland for their commitment to this very important event which will have a massive economic benefit for the region and the town of Castleblayney in particular.

The staff members of Monaghan County Council, planning and tourism sections are playing a decisive and central Role  in ensuring that the venue is ready for the event and that the development project is over the line in good time by mid September when the advance parties arrive.

If the enthusiasm shown by the delegation in attendance over 13^th to 15^th April is anything to go by, the positive impact of this European event will be felt far into the future and the economic benefit will be immense.

In economic terms this single event will generate more revenue for the local economy than the entire cost of the wonderful Lough Muckno Development, funded by Interreg and due for completion just two weeks prior to the commencement of the event and without which the event cannot take place.

In creating a new centre of excellence at the prime resource at Lough Muckno we are truly utilising our best natural resources to stimulate the local economy and create and sustain jobs in the area surrounding.

The tackle sponsor for this event remains Maver UK the company that continues to sponsor the Maver Ireland Garda Siochana team and has done so through our two consecutive wins in this event, leading to the hosting by Ireland in 2012.

Mr Phil Briscoe the CEO of Maver UK and Maver International has also indicated his intention to be in attendance.

Richard Caplice.

Eamonn Bracken.

Donnacha Maguire.

Joe Kiernan.

Organising Committee.