News Archives | National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland

Italy Crowned European Champions as Cavan Lakelands Hosts Prestigious International Angling Event

July 9, 2026/in News/by NCFFI pro

The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland was proud to host the 30th FIPSed European Coarse Angling Championship in the Cavan Lakelands, bringing Europe’s leading coarse angling nations to Ireland for a memorable week of international sport.

Centred in Killeshandra, with competition taking place across Eonish Shore, Lough Oughter and Corfree, Lough Gowna, the championship showcased the very best of Ireland’s wild coarse fishing waters on the European stage.

Teams arrived in Cavan ahead of the competition for five days of official training, giving anglers the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the venues and the unique challenges of the Cavan Lakelands. The championship week was officially opened in Killeshandra, where the competing nations received a colourful and warm welcome from the local community at the opening presentation.

Following two days of intense competition, Team Italy were crowned European Champions, finishing on 31 points. The outstanding performance of the championship came on day one, when Italy produced an exceptional 7-point score to take early control of the event. Although they finished fourth on day two, their opening leg gave them the platform needed to secure the European title. Team England claimed the silver medal with 37 points, while Team Germany completed the podium in third place with 47 points. The final day also saw a strong performance from Team Poland, who were match winners on day two, followed by England in second and Germany in third.

In the individual standings, congratulations go to Johannes Böhm of Germany, who was crowned individual European Champion. He was joined on the podium by Alessandro Bruni of Italy in second place and Luca Amiraglio of Italy in third.

The championship concluded with the official presentation to the winning teams and anglers, officiated by FIPSed representative Mark Downes MBE. Representing Cavan County Council, Chair Carmel Brady awarded the trophies to the winners alongside Oliver McGauley, President of the NCFFI. Their participation underlined the importance of the championship not only as a major sporting occasion, but also as an opportunity to showcase the Cavan Lakelands as an international angling destination.

The NCFFI extends its sincere thanks to Cavan County Council, Inland Fisheries Ireland, local landowners, volunteers, stewards, officials, clubs, and the local community for their support in delivering the event. Considerable work went into preparing the venues to international standard, and the success of the championship reflects the commitment and cooperation of everyone involved.

The championship was a proud moment for Irish coarse angling, bringing the sport to a world stage while highlighting the rich angling tradition of the Cavan Lakelands. The event has once again demonstrated the strength of international angling and the unique appeal of Ireland’s natural waters for competitive coarse fishing.

European Championship – Team Ireland

July 2, 2026/in News/by NCFFI pro

Team Ireland Manager gives us a run down on the recent performance at the European Championship.

On two challenging and changeable venues, impacted by very non-Irish, followed by typical Irish weather, and at a time of year when the fish are otherwise engaged, our 8th place finish was respectable, but ultimately disappointing on a home championships.

We began practice sessions a number of months ago, once the venues were confirmed, but were hampered by conditions, so really only learned depths and the general lie of the land so to speak – very little could be gleaned in terms of tactics, as we knew the venues would change come the championship week.

However, having selected a team based on those sessions, confidence was high that we could achieve a good result.

Practice week went well and we had a favourable rotation, meaning we spent the first two days on Gowna, and the next three on Eonish, by which team we’d see how it was behaving based on feed going in. We caught reasonably well in all sections, even the difficult A section, so we knew, with a favourable draw, there was no reason why we shouldn’t be thinking of getting on the podium.

Day 1 went well enough, with us coming in 6th – Italy put in a fantastic performance to give themselves an almost unassailable lead, with England not too far behind – third place was still within range for a host of teams though, including ourselves, so we remained very positive going into day 2.

Unfortunately we struggled in three of the five sections, meaning the dream was dashed, but still finished a respectable 8th position against 15 of the best teams in the world.

On a personal note I drew the dreaded A section on day 1 – the positive being I was on the very end peg, A1, which may give some advantage, but, as we learned through the week, it’s the shallowest part of the whole length and the ideal draw was at the opposite end in deeper water – and so it proved with me catching 9 small fish for 8th place in the section.

Day 2 was really enjoyable – I was on C section, again on Eonish, and this turned out to be probably the fairest section in the match. I caught steadily throughout to end up with just under 4kgs and 3rd place, beaten narrowly by a certain Will Raison and, with the aid of a lovely tench, the now European Champion, Johannes Bohm (well done!) Congratulations to Italy, England, and Germany for filling the podium both from a team and individual perspective.

Thanks to the NCFFI for their support and organisation of the event, along with Cavan County Council and Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Huge thanks also to our sponsors – Tubertini UK Ltd, Van Den Eyne Ireland and Irish Bat & Tackle Ltd. – we used a number of mixes depending on the venue/section that were based around the old favourites; Turbo, Supercup, Special, Supercrack Roach, Damp Leam and Heavy Damp Leam (TDF). Added to this was the best brown crumb kindly provided by Nigel Holdsworth at Gowna Groundbait.

Finally, a massive thank you to a very dedicated team who worked tirelessly and selflessly to try and bring home a medal: Dean Murray, Jamie Murray, Phil Hartin and Julian Kendrick, alongside our supporting team of Vincent Walsh, Phil Walton, Dara Finnegan and Grant Peters.

Onto the World Championships now in Portugal – unfortunately I can’t fish this year due to work commitments, but the team will travel in good spirits knowing they can compete with the very best.

Europe’s Finest Anglers Head to the Cavan Lakelands

June 19, 2026/in News/by NCFFI pro

The 30th FIPSed European Coarse Angling Championship will take place in the Cavan Lakelands on 27th & 28th June 2026, bringing together the finest float anglers from across Europe. Hosted by the NCFFI in partnership with Cavan County Council and Inland Fisheries Ireland, whose support, together with the cooperation of local landowners, is vital to the success of the championship.

The prestigious event brings together Europe’s leading national teams in the float fishing discipline, creating one of the strongest international fields ever assembled in the region.

The championship provides a unique opportunity to showcase the outstanding waters of the Cavan Lakelands to an international audience. The event will highlight not only the quality of the region’s fisheries, but also its rich angling heritage, spectacular scenery and reputation as one of Europe’s premier destinations for wild coarse fishing.

The main competition will take place across two renowned venues, with sections at Eonish Shore on Lough Oughter and Corfree, Lough Gowna, on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June 2026. However, the championship atmosphere will begin much earlier, with teams arriving in the region from Sunday 21st June to undertake official training and preparation.

The championship headquarters will be based in Killeshandra, which will host the official welcome to the competing nations. At 6.00pm on Monday 22nd June, teams will parade through the town’s Main Street before attending the Official Opening Ceremony at the Killeshandra Community Hall.

Beyond the competition itself, the event will provide an opportunity to showcase the Cavan Lakelands to an international audience while generating significant economic benefits for the local area through visiting teams, officials, supporters and media.

Eastside CAC Crowned 2026 All Ireland Feeder Club Champions

June 1, 2026/in News/by NCFFI pro

Eastside CAC are the 2026 All Ireland Feeder Club Champions after producing an outstanding team performance at Inniscarra Lake, Coachford, Co. Cork, over two days of highly competitive feeder fishing.

Represented by Donatas Petreikis, Marius Vrubliauskas, Eimantas Gostautas and Robertas Zilaitis, the Eastside squad displayed remarkable consistency throughout the championship to secure the title with an impressive 15 penalty points, finishing ahead of a strong field of club teams from across Ireland.

The battle for the podium remained competitive throughout the weekend, with CM Lakelands Green taking the runners-up position on 20 points, followed by CM Lakelands Blue on 22 points, while Erne Anglers finished fourth on 23 points.

Final Club Standings

Eastside CAC – 15 points
CM Lakelands Green – 20 points
CM Lakelands Blue – 22 points
Erne Anglers – 23 points

The individual honours were equally hard fought, with Stephen Whyte (CM Lakelands Green) claiming the Individual Championship with an excellent 18.010kg. Eastside CAC’s consistency was further reflected by Eimantas Gostautas and Robertas Zilaitis, who secured second and third places respectively.

Individual Top Three

Stephen Whyte (CM Lakelands Green) – 18.010kg
Eimantas Gostautas (Eastside CAC) – 17.610kg
Robertas Zilaitis (Eastside CAC) – 14.380kg

Eastside CAC are worthy winners of the 2026 All Ireland Feeder Club Championship, while CM Lakelands Feeder Club will proudly represent Ireland at the FIPSed World Championship Feeder Fishing for Clubs in Italy in 2027, having secured qualification through the NCFFI selection process.

The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland congratulates Eastside CAC on a thoroughly deserved victory and also congratulates CM Lakelands Feeder Club on securing the honour of representing Ireland on the world stage next year. The Federation extends its thanks to all competing clubs, anglers, volunteers and officials who contributed to an excellent championship at Inniscarra Lake. Their support and sportsmanship ensured another successful All Ireland Championship and highlighted the strength of feeder fishing across the island.

All Ireland Senior Canals Championship 2026

May 20, 2026/in News/by NCFFI pro

Despite challenging conditions, the 2026 All ireland Senior Canals Championship produced a hard-fought weekend of competition on the Grand Canal at Daingean Town and the Rowing Course over the weekend of 25th & 26th April.

Following a spell of unusually hot weather in the lead up to the event, last-minute changes to the sections were required. Even with these adjustments, anglers faced extremely difficult conditions in the town section where a floating scum affected the fishing and made for a very technical match throughout the weekend.

Congratulations to all the anglers who persevered and adapted superbly under difficult circumstances.

Congratulations to our 2026 Canal Champion, Pat Bartley, who secured the title with a two-day total of 7.825kg.

Close behind in second place was Nicky Harrison with 7.525kg, while Conor Browne and Mick O’Connor shared third place after both finished on 7.475kg.

The National Committee wishes to thank everyone who helped make the event possible, including the organisers, volunteers, stewards and all those involved behind the scenes over the course of the weekend.

Team Ireland Complete World Feeder Championship Campaign in Italy

April 20, 2026/in News/by NCFFI pro

Team Ireland has concluded its participation at the FIPSed World Feeder Fishing Championships in Ostellato, Italy, finishing 24th overall in a highly competitive field of 29 nations.

The 15th edition of the championship changed this year to three competition days proved to be one of the toughest in recent years, with the challenging Ostellato canal demanding exceptional precision, tactical awareness and consistency. On a venue where every fish counted, anglers from across the world found bites difficult to come by, making every point hard earned.

Representing Ireland were John Browne, Michael Buchwalder, Johnny McKinley, James O’Doherty and Charlie Richards, under the management of Brenton Sweeney and supported throughout the week by the backroom team.

The highlight of the Irish performance came on the opening day when Johnny McKinley secured an excellent third place in his sector with 2.700kg. On the second day, James O’Doherty produced another standout display, finishing second in his sector with 1.050kg against some of the world’s finest feeder anglers.

Team Ireland has a proud tradition in international feeder angling, having previously been crowned World Champions in this event. This year’s squad featured a blend of emerging talent and experienced internationals, reflecting the Federation’s ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of anglers capable of competing on the world stage. Competing against the very best on one of Europe’s most demanding venues provides invaluable experience, and the knowledge gained throughout the week will undoubtedly strengthen the team for future international championships.

While the final placing did not reflect the ambitions of the squad, Team Ireland displayed determination, resilience and professionalism throughout an exceptionally demanding week of training and competition. The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland congratulates the team and management on their commitment and dedication in representing Ireland with pride and thanks everyone who followed and supported the team throughout the championship.

Resignation of the Chair

February 15, 2026/in News/by NCFFI pro

The Committee of the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland (NCFFI) wishes to advise members that Jack Tisdall has stepped down as Chair of NCFFI and from his position on the Committee.

Jack assumed the role of Chair at a particularly challenging period for the organisation and has provided steady, committed leadership over the past four years. This followed more than a decade of dedicated service at committee level. The Committee also acknowledges Jack’s outstanding contribution to angling across the island of Ireland over a period of more than 40 years, both domestically and on the international stage, where he has represented the sport with distinction.

In the interim, Vice-Chair Gavin Walsh will assume the role of Chair until the AGM later this month, at which time all Officer positions will be subject to election in accordance with the Federation’s Constitution.

While the Committee is sorry to see Jack step down, we fully respect his decision and extend our sincere thanks for his exceptional service to NCFFI and to angling. We wish him every continued success and look forward to seeing him on the bank in the future.

Revised Constitution Adopted by Special Resolution

February 11, 2026/in News/by NCFFI pro

The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland is pleased to confirm that members adopted a revised Constitution by Special Resolution at an Extraordinary General Meeting held on Wednesday, 11 February.

The revised Constitution places the Federation on a strong legal and governance footing, ensuring compliance with company law and reflecting good governance practice appropriate to a volunteer-led National Governing Body. It provides greater clarity around governance and decision-making while supporting the Federation’s continued development.

The National Committee would like to thank members for their engagement and support throughout this process. With the revised Constitution now in place, the Federation looks forward with confidence to the Annual General Meeting later this month and to continuing its work in promoting and developing coarse angling across Ireland.

Teamwork Triumphs! Team Ireland the 2025 Celtic Cup in England

October 13, 2025/in News/by NCFFI pro

Teamwork Triumphs! Team Ireland the 2025 Celtic Cup in England.

Float Team Manager Jason Ward gives us an inside look at their 2025 Celtic Cup win on the River Weaver.

“After two good days practice, where we learned loads about a very tricky venue, that was very much out of sorts, we were confident going into the first day of competition. Team Ireland ‘Black’ were looking good on the ‘Dredger’ section of the river, with a 1st for and 2nd in section for . But the other side of the river was trickier for us, with struggling in a really bad area and suffering due to a late re-pegging putting him on an un-fished peg. This put the tram on 20 points with a mountain to climb.

The good news however, was that Team Ireland ‘Grey’ consisting of , , and put in a really solid performance to score 13 points, putting them in striking distance of Team Wales ‘Red’ (8 points) and Team Scotland ‘White’ (12 points).

A BIG shout out to our three young anglers who made up Team Ireland ‘White’; , and – under the rules of competition, if any of them came higher in a section that their Team Ireland ‘Grey’ counterpart, then their score counts. This is applied to ensure all the anglers have something to fish for – a rule that was to prove critical for us on Day 2!

Day 2 – with significant work to do the focus was on the Grey team, but the whole squad were fully focused as they knew they could play a massive role if able to take points off the leading teams. The venue picked up somewhat and fish started to show in areas, making for a great technical match and an ideal training ground for the FIPsed events we fish at international level.

On ‘Dredger’ we had Leigh on A9 next to Dean on B1 – a fluke of the draw, but fortunately both were on fish and went on to win their sections. With the other team members doing their bit suddenly the 5 point gap was gone and Team Wales and Team Ireland were tied going into the two ‘Oak Tree’ sections!

Mary had struggled, but James Wellwood was fishing a superb match in C section, and his results could replace Mary’s. At the weigh0in Team Wales ‘Red’ were leading the section, but then Vincent pipped them by a few grammes, and critically, James then beat Vincent by the same margin to take the section. Team Ireland were now leading by 2 going down the final section. We knew Team Wales ad this section but not their ‘Red’ team angler, although we knew he had a tench which we thought would have put him second. However, Jamie Murray had fished brilliantly to beat him, catching some quality roach, pushing him to third. Phil has struggled but had a decent perch and a few small fish for 600g. This put him in 5th with 4 still to weigh we knew if anyone beat him Team Wales would be champions. When the next best weight was 500g, we knew we had tied and it would all be down to weight! Fortunately we had managed to beat Team Wales on both days by just over 2kg in total, and had won it – a fantastic result for the entire squad!

Analysing the results you can see how every member played their part, in a match that ultimately came down to grammes in every section. Individually we also had great success; Vincent (3 point total) was pipped to 1st place on weight, with Leigh (4 points) taking 3rd on his Team Ireland debut, and Jamie (also 4 points) coming in 4th.

Huge thanks to all the anglers who took part – the match is fished in great spirits and really does prepare our anglers for World and European championship, blending youth with experience to develop all involved.

Massive thanks to Ben Roberts Wales Float Fishing Team for all his help in organising and hosting the event, and to my Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling counterpart, Gus Brindle for all his assistance.

So, onto 2026 and a chance to defend our title on home soil – when we shall look forward to welcoming everyone to the Wild West of County Mayo!”

: Clarke Civil Works , Inland Fisheries Ireland, Tubertini UK LTD , Marcel Van Den Eynde Ireland, Irish Bait and Tackle Limited

Youth Teams Announced for 2026!

October 6, 2025/in News/by NCFFI pro

Youth Teams Announced for 2026

Team Ireland will have full representation at the World Youth Championships in France next year — with squads in all age categories for the first time in years!

Thanks to the hard work of Youth Manager Adrian Browne and the dedication shown at our Development Days, a fantastic group of young anglers are ready to take on the world stage.

U15: Conor Fitzharris, Jack Norris, Charlie Upton, Michal Urbanksi & Tiernan O’Brien (debut)

U20: Flynn Clarke (Debut), Finn McCarhty (debut), Sean Casey (debut), John Mulligan & James Wellwood

Huge congratulations to all those selected — your commitment and passion have earned you this moment!

The U25 team will be revealed soon — watch this space.

And don’t miss the announcement of our next Development Days, coming soon — the perfect opportunity for more young anglers to get involved!

Youth team travel and entry are subsidised by NCFFI, with support from Inland Fisheries Ireland and partners — but we need your help too! Parents and anglers will be fundraising to cover travel costs, and any support or sponsorship is warmly welcomed to help these young athletes represent Team Ireland with pride.

We also warmly welcome support from our membership — anyone available to travel and support the squad in France will make a huge difference for these young anglers.