- Joined
- Aug 25, 2020
- Messages
- 27
I'm originally from that part of Ireland, many years in Dublin now but in the late 1980s I used to fish the juniors in the festival. It was held for a week in May on the river Suck and attracted loads of U.K anglers to Ballinasloe for the fishing and the craic.
I would be interested in any knowledge members may have of that era of the draw in Haydens Hotel (now gone), fishing as I recall Dalysgrove, Culliagh Boathouse, Correen Ford. There would have been a gala dinner on the final night where prizes were awarded I vaguely recall receiving a junior prize one year. I have read on some forums that renowned UK match anglers now sadly passed Syd Meads and Bryan Lakey used to fish it but as its so long ago I cannot recall much of the details but remember the great fun that was had by all in those days. I do recall local angler Arthur Judge was a winner one year but it appeared to fizzle out in early 2000's to be replaced later by a large Pike competition and sadly there is no big match festival that Im aware of held in Ballinasloe these days.
I suppose times changed and indeed the river as the dredged the Suck from Shannonbridge to Ballinasloe to facilitate the "boat people".
Does anyone have a list of winners or any other memories of the festival?
thanks
Ray
I would be interested in any knowledge members may have of that era of the draw in Haydens Hotel (now gone), fishing as I recall Dalysgrove, Culliagh Boathouse, Correen Ford. There would have been a gala dinner on the final night where prizes were awarded I vaguely recall receiving a junior prize one year. I have read on some forums that renowned UK match anglers now sadly passed Syd Meads and Bryan Lakey used to fish it but as its so long ago I cannot recall much of the details but remember the great fun that was had by all in those days. I do recall local angler Arthur Judge was a winner one year but it appeared to fizzle out in early 2000's to be replaced later by a large Pike competition and sadly there is no big match festival that Im aware of held in Ballinasloe these days.
I suppose times changed and indeed the river as the dredged the Suck from Shannonbridge to Ballinasloe to facilitate the "boat people".
Does anyone have a list of winners or any other memories of the festival?
thanks
Ray