Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has announced details of its €30k Sponsorship Programme for 2025.
This is one of IFI’s main funding mechanisms to promote sustainable angling in Ireland. IFI invested in 83 angling events and initiatives across Ireland in 2024, including national or international competitions and festivals, coaching and juvenile outreach events, public awareness events, supporting international teams competing overseas, and other angling-related initiatives.
The IFI grant aid aims to promote angling tourism in rural areas in 2025, with a particular focus on activities for novice and young anglers.
Launching the 2025 call for submissions, Suzanne Campion Head of Finance and Corporate Services at IFI said: “Anyone seeking a New Year hobby would be encouraged to try angling. Recreational fishing is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds right across Ireland, and brings a significant economic contribution to rural Ireland. IFI is proud to sponsor sustainable angling events and teams in 2025”.
Angling clubs, groups and associations nationwide are now invited to apply for sponsorship funding before the deadline of January 24th, 2025. Requests for equipment, staff support, and biosecurity assistance can be made throughout the year.
Examples of teams, competitions and events that were awarded sponsorship by IFI in 2024 include, Novice coaching sessions held by Lough Ree Lanesborough Angling Hub on the Shannon river; World Shore Angling Championships for U16s and U21s, which hosted over 150 anglers for a week in Wexford; King of the Lake 2024 International Pike Festival on Lough Ree; Beginner’s fishing event at Barfinnihy Lake, run by the Killarney Salmon and Trout Angling Club; Irish Youths fly fishing team, sponsored by IFI, that won gold at the 2024 Youth International Fly Fishing Championships in England; World Boat Championships (U21) in Donegal.
