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<blockquote data-quote="Hillswood46" data-source="post: 2616700" data-attributes="member: 26276">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 &quot;boat people&quot;. Does anyone have a list of winners or any other memories of the festival? thanksRay</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Hillswood46, post: 2616700, member: 26276"] 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 [/QUOTE]

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