Portglenone preps for Euro Coarse Fishing Championships

Preparations are in full swing at the Glenone Coarse Angling Facility (known locally as Molloy’s Ford) at Portglenone ahead of the world-renowned coarse fishing championships.
Partners and sponsors unite on Mid Ulster Councils coarse angling facility at Portglenone ahead of the world-renowned coarse fishing championships set to take place on the Lower River Bann in less than a months time.  Pictured are Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Martin Kearney, Stephen Douglas, Waterways Ireland, Councillors Ian Milne and Sean McPeake, Edward Montgomery, Honorable Irish Society and Oliver McGauley, Hon. President of the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland.Partners and sponsors unite on Mid Ulster Councils coarse angling facility at Portglenone ahead of the world-renowned coarse fishing championships set to take place on the Lower River Bann in less than a months time.  Pictured are Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Martin Kearney, Stephen Douglas, Waterways Ireland, Councillors Ian Milne and Sean McPeake, Edward Montgomery, Honorable Irish Society and Oliver McGauley, Hon. President of the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland.
Partners and sponsors unite on Mid Ulster Councils coarse angling facility at Portglenone ahead of the world-renowned coarse fishing championships set to take place on the Lower River Bann in less than a months time. Pictured are Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Martin Kearney, Stephen Douglas, Waterways Ireland, Councillors Ian Milne and Sean McPeake, Edward Montgomery, Honorable Irish Society and Oliver McGauley, Hon. President of the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland.

The championships are set to take place on the Lower River Bann in less than a months’ time. It will be the first time that Northern Ireland will host an event of this calibre since the World Championships were held on the River Erne in 1992, and the Newry Canal in 1982.

The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland (NCFFI), awarded the honour of hosting the 25th anniversary of this event by the Fédéracion International de la Pêche Sportive, has been working closely with the local community to bring the event to this area.

The championships is set to be staged around the communities of Portglenone and Bellaghy in the Bann Corridor, an area of outstanding natural beauty where the teams representing 18 nations will be hosted throughout the championships bringing a welcome boost to the local economy.

Significant investment from Waterways Ireland and Mid Ulster District Council and the generosity of local landowners has led to the enhancement of the existing coarse fishing facility to support an angling event of this size.

Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Martin Kearney, said: “Preparations are almost complete to welcome over 100 anglers from countries all across Europe to the magnificent Lower Bann River at Portglenone-Bellaghy. The site has an established angling heritage as home of a number of large coarse angling festivals, including the annual Bann Bonanza, and our investment will create a River venue capable of hosting further international competitions in years to come.

“We would encourage the local community to come out to welcome the anglers in force at the Parade of Nations, a colourful affair which will see member of local community groups welcome the teams in procession as they make their way from Seamus Heaney Homeplace to the GAA Hall in Bellaghy on Thursday, June 27, at 5.30pm.”

Waterways Ireland’s Sharon Lavin said: “We are delighted to welcome so many international visitors to experience exceptional angling along the Lower Bann. They will undoubtedly enjoy the new facilities installed along the river at Portglenone and we look forward to working on other similar collaborative projects in the future, in continuing to develop and promote the excellent angling product available.”

Event organiser Jack Tisdall, NCFFI says: “To host this prestigious event is fantastic news for the coarse angling community as we are providing Ireland with its first world class angling facility on a River. Further planned developments will support the inclusivity of all in our sport and leave a legacy of angling for the area. “

The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland are appealing to members of all communities for their help in stewarding the event with 100 volunteers are required. If you are available from 8am to 2pm on the Saturday and Sunday, or both, visit www.ncffi.ie/euro25 for more details and to register on-line.

Teams will train on the venue from Monday to Friday, June 23 to 28, ahead of the Parade of Nations on June 27 where the Chair of Mid Ulster District Council will ceremoniously receive the flags from the teams and the championships will be declared open by the President of FIPSed Fédération Internationale de la Pêche Sportive en Eau Douce Championships on Saturday & Sunday, June 29 and 30. Enthusiasts will be delighted with the opportunity to watch top rods in action on the bank, such as England’s Will Raison and Hungary’s Tamas Walter, as well as team Italy currently ranked number one in the world.

For more details of the European Championships visit the dedicated website at www.ncffi.ie/euro25. If you are a local community group who would like to take part in the Parade of the Nations, contact Helen Rainsford, NCFFI Public Relations on 07711 607 200