Fermoy is now officially deemed to be a Centre of Excellence for disabled angling. The reality of that was much in evidence along the banks of the Blackwater in Fermoy on Thursday afternoon last week, when participants from 25 different groups tried out the sport.

"We hope to set up a six week programme, one afternoon a week. After that, if they like it, people can continue angling as a hobby" Bob Seaward of the Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers of Ireland explained. Bob has been heavily involved with the 'Angling for All' initiative, an outreach programme run in conjunction with the Equality Authority, which promotes recreational angling and provides people with disabilities with a comprehensive introduction to angling sport.

Ten projects are running around the country with two centres of excellence established - the one on the Blackwater in Fermoy and on the river Suck in Dunamon, Co. Roscommon. It means they've been developed as angling 'hubs' supported by the Angling Council of Ireland, the Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers of Ireland and Inland Fisheries Ireland. "Each hub will be self sufficient with their own equipment," Bob pointed out.

QUALIFIED COACHES

"We're giving them a taste today," Bob explained of the coaching being delivered on Thursday last, to the groups who came from all over county Cork. If they like it they can go on to do the six-week course. All tuition is done by qualified Angling Council of Ireland-trained and CPD certified coaches, who've been receiving the specialist training for some months now.

There's plans to host a national competition next year, dividing the event between the Roscommon and Fermoy locations and, all going well, to follow that up with an international competition.

Bob says they've asked angling clubs around the country to restructure their activities to include disabled anglers. They can train up people from the clubs to become coaches. "Coaches have told us they get a great sense of achievement from it," he said.

Helping out with the event on Thursday last was Derry Casey of the National Coarse Fishing Federation and local wheely-boat operator, Chris 'Kipper' O'Donovan of Fermoy Town and District Angling Club.

DIRECTLY SUPPORTING 10,000 IRISH JOBS

Last week the results of a study commissioned by Inland Fisheries Ireland showed direct spending on angling in the country amounted to a whopping €555 million last year, with indirect spending worth an additional €200 million, giving a total value of €755 million. Recreational angling was also found to directly support 10,000 existing Irish jobs, many of which are located in the most peripheral and rural parts of the Irish countryside and along the coastline.

The study found that 406,000 people were involved in recreational angling in Ireland last year, with over 150,000 of them travelling from Northern Ireland and overseas. Over a quarter of a million Irish adults held a fishing rod last year, with sea angling along with salmon and brown trout angling seen as the most popular categories where domestic anglers are concerned.

The quality of the Irish angling product, the friendliness and hospitality of the Irish people and our outstanding scenery, were cited amongst the principal attractions of Ireland as an international destination for recreational angling. Tourism angling spend is estimated at approximately €280 million on an annual basis.

"We are tapping into this. With that kind of spend it's right up there with the top sports," Chris O'Donovan pointed out.

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