Irish Fly Fair Galway
The recent Fly Fair was a fantastic success and many exhibitors have already booked for next year. Speaking on the show, Grace McDermott of Mara Media (organizers) said that over 3,000 visitors came to the show over the two days. Feedback from visitors, exhibitors, casters and fly tyers has been exceptionally positive. Business was brisk for the exhibitors, with reports of good spending on the products by the highly selective visitors. Attractions included, fly tyers, casting demonstrations, angling simulator, entomology, aquarium and fish cookery demonstrations. Plans are already afoot for next year's event and the event coordinator Stevie Munn has been flooded with compliments on his and Mara Media's ability to launch and run the first ever fly fair in Galway.
Angling for business
http://www.galwayindependent.com
What can I say the show was an absolute success, accommodation was brilliant, the layout of the event was second to none and what really blew the fly dressers away was the way we were treated to the buffet and on the Sunday the sandwiches. This kind gesture was noticed and appreciated by all.
This is definitely an established show from now on and I would even go to say it is a quality show. Stevie Munn excelled himself by being part of a professional team and I for one would like to thank each one of you for an excellent event.
It would be an honour to be considered for the next one. Once again thanks for a brilliant show
Lawrence Finney
(A.P.G.A.I.(Ireland)
http://www.finneysflies.com
I thought the layout was clear concise, I liked the fly dressers up stairs, there was lots of light and a welcoming site as you walked into the show. Downstairs all tackle suppliers in one room with services around the venue I think worked very well. The lecture room could have been signed posted.
I thought Grace did an exceptional job. Grace chatted with enthusiasm about the show. Everyone who worked at the show was friendly and helpful...
Regards
Anne
Fishpal
England
Ps as always Stevie you were a star...well done x
Hi Stevie, Grace, Hugh, Geraldine, and everyone else I forgot
We want to thank you for a really good organised show, we had a great time, and everything was perfect. We really hope that this show is going on for next year.
YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB.
Thank you for taking such good care of us. We know that you all must be very exhausted now, so take some well-deserved rest, if you can.
Thanks again for everything.
All our love,
Riny and Johanna
Holland
All my best and thank for a wonderful weekend. For me the highlight of the show was an 11 year old boy named Paddy Bird from Ballincar Co.Sligo. He stood at our table for the whole day on Saturday. He was a joy and his enthusiasm was infectious. Put simply, he was in awe of the whole event. We took him under our wings and passed on some tying tips. He told us he had a 100 euro to spend on materials so we got him some good deals and advised him on what to buy. My good friend Joe McDonald (another tier at the show) handed him a Jungle cock cape and told him to keep it. His eyes lit up as if Santa had arrived early. He returned first thing on Sunday morning at our tying bench again for 15 minutes before he went back home to Sligo. When I asked him would he like to tie at the show next year his jaw dropped and in his innocence he asked me if he would have to take a test to tie at the show next year. I smiled and told him that he had already passed. I took his details and chatted to his father who thanked us both profusely. To see the joy in that boys face as he left for home with thoughts of flies and coin bright salmon racing through his vains, is for me what these shows are about. To sum it up, it’s handing it to a young boy or girl and passing it to the fly fishing stars of tomorrow is what makes these shows such great events. A wise man once said if we really knew the joy of giving we would not let anyone pass us by without giving them something.
The show was a great success. The crowds kept on coming and the flow of people was constant throughout the two day event. Young and old came together as one. Hugh Bonner of Mara Media said” It surpassed our expectations" It was a terrific show with some real quality tiers, Casters & stands."It was a really good venue and we we love Galway" judging on the success of this event we plan on making "The Irish Fly Fair” an annual event on every ones calendar.
Stevie Munn, "The tiers at the show really enjoyed the people and commented that they were made feel most welcome to the West of Ireland". "So pleased were they that they all vowed to return next year." Punters took their families down for the weekend. They travelled from Belfast to Cork and from Sligo to Dublin.
Talking to one of the Tackle shop stands. They said "It was their our best weekend this year. "People had their lists and bought what they needed". What a great weekend it was!" "We'll be back next year".
The future of Fly fishing is in good hands. "We can't wait till next year’s show which can only get better and better as time goes on". I would like to thank everyone and especially the tiers Casters, & exhibiters for their time and most of all I would like to thank you the people who made the event possible" and to you Danny for all your help.
All my best,
Declan
Ireland
Well done on the show it was brill. Have been to the British one and not a patch on this. Enjoyed the weekend. The best show I have ever been at……
Regards
Mike.
Dear Hugh and Grace
Just a brief note to congratulate you, Stevie and all the team on an excellent event in Galway this weekend! I trust it lived up to your expectations.
Regards
Ken
Prof Ken Whelan
Research Director
Atlantic Salmon Trust
Hi Stevie
Thanks for the invite to the Fair, I thought it was one of the best events, indoor or outdoor, to be held in Ireland this year. I was worked off my feet doing free tying lessons for kids and beginners and also individual help 'sessions' with amateur fly-dressers. Their feedback was extremely positive.
I reckon the attendance and enthusiasm indicated that there is a definite need for this event in the West of Ireland. Too often these events are on the East coast or in the Midlands.
I wish the organisers and yourself every success in the future and sincerely hope that the event will run again in Galway next year
Arthur
Ireland
Dear Stevie,
The show was good. Mara Media did well to find the customers and looked after us all extremely well. The trade stands were of a high standard. The tyers were all interesting, sociable and friendly.
Rock on.
David
England
Hi Stevie,
I send you a big thank you for the wonderful weekend in Galway. I had a fantastic time meeting old friends and making new ones. It was heartening to see so many people attending the show. I have since spoken to some of my friends who were there and the word is, it was a resounding success. The venue was just perfect. I am looking forward to 2011 already
Many thanks to you and all your team. You all did a wonderful job.
Kind regards,
Alice
Ireland
Stevie
Very good show. Well done.
best regards,
Sam
Dear Stevie and the whole Irish Fly Fair Team,
Thanks for organising such a great show. It was a pleasure to be part of it and I hope you will organize the show again.
Keep up the good work
Best regards
Paul Van De Sande
It was a really great weekend, meeting old friends and making new ones. I want to thank you for the invite and everything was well organised and want to thank you and Grace for that and all the others who have put all their free time into this great weekend. If there is a next one I will be glad with an invitation...if you want me to come.....
Thanks again and see you soon somewhere!!
All the best,
Greets André Miegies
Was at the show on Saturday with friend Andrew Mc Gall who was tying salmon flies up stairs. Andrew was down from Belfast so bunked up with me in Oughterard. Displayed a few perch poppers, pike streamers and SW flies and the like up stairs and thought the standard of tying on display from all the lads was both diverse and exceptional in quality.
The show was fantastic and and a testament to the organisers including Stevie Munn, The boys from Irish Angler and Mara Media. Knowing so many of the people in Angling circles North and South of the border it was great just to float around all day and catch up with familiar faces.
Great to catch up with Stevie Munn and thoroughly enjoyed his presentation... really nice guy and all round angling talent in the flesh, god he knows his stuff, Fishing in Ireland and Canada, Casting, Tying History, class act.
Overall a day of goodwill and a festive atmosphere... it did the heart allot of good to see people in the west for a few hours smile, laugh and forget the harsh times we now find ourselves in down here. Long may the show continue! I thought the stands like Celtic Fly Craft and the likes were just heaven for big kids!
To all the lads I might have missed saying hello to on here including Seanie and JJ my apologies by the time I watched the Irish Samoa game at the bar I needed a name tag just to remember my own name.
Regards,
Brent.
NZ
Ireland needed a good show and that one was certainly the pick of them in 2010. it had everything you want if your into Fly Fishing with guys like Hywel Morgan, Stevie Munn for questions on fishing and casting, maybe two of the best all rounder's in the game, Some of the world best fly tyers, a very good mix, talks and great trade stands, so glad it’s going to happen again in 2011, nice to see a good turn out as well for the traders.
Co-Founder of the S.S.F.D
We will be there again with Cookshill - thought it was a great show
Steve Cooper
Hi Stevie,
I’m writing this belated email from Spain to where I rapidly retreated after the Galway Fair. But I have no problem in telling you that Betty and I really enjoyed the whole week end and, indeed, all aspects of the Fair. It was first class in every respect and the hotel also did us proud. We particularly enjoyed having our daughter, son-in-law and grandson to share the week end with us.
From the fly tying viewpoint, it really was excellent. You rounded up a very good cross section of tyers with differing styles and I particularly enjoyed the social interaction with the others and of course with the paying visitors, most of whom were genuinely interested. The venue in the conservatory area was also very appropriate with of course excellent natural light. And, even though we had known each other’s names and had passed “like ships in the night” in the past, it was a pleasure to finally catch up with you and have some good chat.
Please pass on my congrats to Hugh and to all your colleagues who participated in the organising side and I for one look forward to it becoming an annual fixture in the calendar of the Irish angling community. And I saw that Derek Evans gave the Fair a nice write up in The Irish Times today!
Very best regards from Betty and me
Michael
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