Cavan Monaghan Rural Development (CMRD) in conjunction with the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board recently organised angling tourism workshops in Skeaghvil Woodland Chalets, Baileboro, Co. Cavan on 29th November 2006 and in A Healthy Choice Spa & Clinic, Annyalla, Co Monaghan on 10th January 2007. These workshops were aimed at all tourism accommodation providers, including self-catering, guesthouses, bed & breakfasts and hoteliers.

The half day workshops were designed to provide attendees with the most up to date information on the current trends/needs of the angling market.

The main objective of the workshops were to re-ignite an interest in angling tourism. Albeit, there has been a decline in angling visitors in recent years, angling is still considered a lucrative area for Irish Tourism and a key product for the Cavan area.

The first part of the workshop consisted of a series of talks by marketing representatives from the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, the Central Fisheries Board and presentations from well renowned fishing guides, Gerry Duffy and Marc O’Regan (in Bailieboro) and Geraldine O'Reilly (in Annyalla). A number of topics were covered including details on the role of the Regional Fisheries Board, current marketing activities undertaken by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board and angling guides, an overview of the role of an angling guide and examples of best practice in the provision of angling tourist accommodation.

After lunch, the practical side of the workshop was held at each venue. This part of the workshop consisted of fishing guides, Marc O’Regan, Pat McLaughlin, Gerry Duffy and Mark Corps, Angling Advisor for the Central Fisheries Board demonstrating the most popular pike fishing techniques as well as informing attendees on the practices fishing guides must adhere to in order to ensure angling visitors get the most out of their fishing trip.

The workshops were a great success and provided an ideal forum for accommodation providers to meet qualified fishing guides with a view to working together to offer anglers competitive packages that encompass all aspects of an angling offer, namely, good fishing, angler friendly accommodation (dry rooms, bait rooms, packed lunches etc), nearby entertainment and qualified fishing guides.

For further information on fishing in the Eastern Region, please visit www.fishingireland.net and for further information on tourism training / workshops click here

Information on fishing Guides:

Gerry Duffy - www.gerryduffyangling.com - 042-9663601 087-6271993
Marc O’Regan - www.crannmor.com - 046-9431635 087 915 3002
Pat McLoughlin - patandtriana@eircom.net - 046-9241807 0861017415
Brian Keoghan - breenkeoghan@eircom.net - 042 966 3552

Part-financed by the European Union’s Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and the Irish Government under the National Development Plan, and managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Border Action’