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IRELAND'S COARSE ANGLING FESTIVALS 2016
It's a good time for match fishing in Ireland!  A series of angling festivals take place from March to November and all are renowned for the great wild fishing among beautiful surroundings, along with the famous Irish hospitality and the craic'.  From the depths of County Cork, just a three hour drive from Dublin to the magnificent Lakelands; clubs and organisations host the festivals on the canals, rivers and lakes across Ireland.  There is bound to be one to suit you and you can combine them to fulfill an action packed two week Irish angling holiday - now that sounds good!
MARCH
18-20
26-27
26-28
26-28
St.Patrick's  Inniscarra Lake, Coachford, County Cork

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The first festival of the season and combined with the St.Patrick's holiday it's a weekend of good angling and the craic'.  Preceded by a one day match on St. Patrick's day 17th to make up four days of match fishing! Entry is €100 for the 3 day event with a full payout on entry plus €1000 sponsorship.

Cootehill Easter, Cootehill Lakes, County Cavan
DAIWA Erne Easter, Lough Erne, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern ireland
Suck Valley Easter Angling Festival, Suck River Valley, County Roscommon NEW!

APRIL
18-22
25-29
WATERWAYS Portumna Festival, River Shannon, Portumna, County Galway NEW!
Banagher Festival, River Shannon, Banagher, County Offaly

MAY
2-6
08
9/11/13
10 & 12
16-20
16-20
22-24
23-27
25-27
29-31
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​Mahon's Festival  Lough Erne, County Fermanagh


This long running event now holds the Erne match record for Tommy Pickerings' 5 hour catch of 109.900kg on the Sligo Road.  The 58 bream and 6 hybrids won him the festival with 132.400kg.  The base for the five days is Mahon's Hotel, Irvinestown, Co.Fermanagh where the anglers congregate daily and many stay. 


Erne Open Lough Erne, County Fermanagh
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Waterways Ireland Classic  Lough Erne and surrounding area, County Fermanagh.
Three days of angling with sponsorship - top prize of £5000! Discounted entry with Ireland Travel Plus. This match is the largest in Ireland at 200+ pegs.

King of the Erne  Lough Erne, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
A 2 day match on the intermittent days of the Classic. Entry £40 Top prize £1k


Mal Scott Cup  Lough Erne, County Fermanagh
Fermoy Spring Festival  Blackwater, Fermoy, County Cork
Fishing Mon, Wed & Fri on the River Blackwater for dace.  A 2 day match takes place on the intermittent days for those who want five days consecutive angling.
Coachford Festival  Inniscarra Lake, County Cork

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Ballinamore Festival Leitrim Lakes, County Leitrim

A five day match fishing 4 different venues with an open draw on the last day.  Venues to include Lake Garadice which provides parking behind your peg on some shores.  A great introduction to the fabulous angling available in and around Ballinamore and County Leitrim.  Entry is €150.  100% payout with €500 sponsorship.  One not to be missed!

Fountain House Festival  Inniscarra Lake, County Cork
O'Callaghans Cup  Inniscarra Lake, County Cork
​Preceded by the one day O'Callaghans Open on May 28th

JUNE
1-3
3-5
6-10
6-10
11-12
13/15/17
13-17
14 & 16
Ottewill Trophy  Inniscarra Lake, County Cork
Lanesborough Festival, Lanesborough, Co. Longford
​A 3 day event to include the famous hot water stretch of the Shannon
Breffni Seniors  Arvagh, County Cavan
Edenderry Festival Grand Canal, Edenderry, Co. Offaly
Enfield Festival Royal Canal, Enfield, Co. Meath
Leinster Festival  Grand Canal, County Offaly
Breffni Open Arvagh, County Cavan
Daingean Festival  Grand Canal, Daingean, County Offaly

JULY
09-10
11-15
24
25-28
29 - 01Aug
Ballybay Festival Ballybay Loughs, County Monaghan
The Ballybay Classic local venues, Co. Monaghan
​Resurrecting the popular five day Ballybay festival to be fished on various local venues by rotation.
NCFFI All Ireland Championships, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan
Belturbet Erne Festival  Belturbet, County Cavan

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Clones Festival Clones Loughs, County Monaghan

Four days fishing four different venues in rotation at this popular festival held over the Bank Holiday weekend.  Regular venues include Annaghmakerrig, Mullinary, Drumlona and Bairds Shore in County Monaghan but these can change as the club are on the lookout for new venues. This festival is limited to 40 anglers so early booking is advisable Visit www.clonescoarseanglers.net


AUGUST
25-28
28-30
29-02Sep
31 - 02Sep
Ramor Festival Lough Ramor, Virginia, County Cavan
Celtic Shield  Inniscarra Lake, County Cork
Vintners Cup  Inniscarra Lake, County Cork
Fitzpatrick's Gowna  Lough Gowna, County Cavan
A five day festival with lovely crystal for the winner and a great payout with its usual attendance of over 80 anglers. Preceded by the Jimmy Sloane Memorial match on Sunday 30th August.

SEPTEMBER
4-6
5-9
5-9
5-9
10-11
11-13
10-11
12-16
14-16
12-16
12-16
19-23
19-23
26/28/30
26-30
26-30
Lennox Cup  Inniscarra Lake, County Cork

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Lakelands & Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championship, Lakelands Region of Cavan, Leitrim & Fermanagh

Not only is it the richest coarse match in Ireland with a guaranteed €21,000 on the Pairs alone but it holds the most sought after title of World Pairs Champions.  The inclusion of the DAIWA Cup provides section money for the individual angler and a full payout on entry supplemented by £8,000 worth of DAIWA vouchers. Expect anglers from further afield at the 2015 championships.  Discounted entry with Ireland Travel Plus.
For more information visit
www.worldpairsangling.com or follow at 
www.facebook.com/worldpairs and @worldpairs


Belturbet Belturbet, Co. Cavan
Arvagh International  Arvagh Loughs, County Cavan
Muckno Feeder Lough Muckno, County Monaghan
Granville's Cup  Inniscarra Lake, County Cork
Coolcower Cup Inniscarra Lake, County Cork

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Horseshoe Festival Lough Erne, County Fermanagh

Five days fishing in and around the town of Enniskillen.  A hospitable festival where anglers meet daily at the Horseshoe Bar & Restaurant who provide sponsorship and beer tokens!  With a minimal attendance of 50 anglers this festival will provide a top prize of £2,000, 2nd £1500 and 3rd £1000.

Hackett Cup  Inniscarra Lake, County Cork
Carrick Festival  Carrick on Shannon, County Leitrim
King of Clubs  Arvagh Loughs, County Cavan
Portumna Festival  River Shannon, Co. Galway
Fermanagh Cup  Lough Erne, County Fermanagh
Sheemore Festival  Sheemore, County Leitrim
Cootehill Championships  Cootehill Loughs, County Cavan
Carrigallen  Carrigallen, County Leitrim

OCTOBER
3/5/7
22-24
Fermoy Autumn Festival, River Blackwater, Fermoy, County Cork
Fishing Mon, Wed & Fri on the River Blackwater which can produce excellent bags of dace at this time of the year
Jackie Lennox Munster Inniscarra Lake, County Cork
Fantastic sponsorship of €1000 for this three day festival held over the Irish bank holiday weekend.
31Oct -04Nov
Champion of the Lakes Ballyconnell, County Cavan
The very last festival of the year fished on the lakes and rivers of County Cavan

Important Notes

Participating anglers from Great Britain, RoI & Europe are required to purchase a license to fish in Northern Ireland and the Fermanagh waters featured in these matches.  Licenses issued in Great Britain are not valid.  A 14 day combined license/permit is available from DCAL at a cost of £20.  Buy on-line at -  http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/do-it-online/leisure-home-and-community-online/buy-angling-licences-and-permits.htm   Note - licenses not required for the World Pairs Angling Championships

A South Western Regional Fisheries Board permit is required to participate in matches on Inniscarra Lake, County Cork. A yearly permit can be purchased for €30 - 2 passport size photographs required.

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