Growing Traditional Archery Across Ireland

TIFAM — the Irish Foundation for Archery and Mentorship — exists to grow, represent, regulate, teach, and support the traditional archery movement throughout Ireland.

Our principal purpose centres upon building a united national community in which individual archers may become members directly, while established archery clubs may affiliate as complete organisations. Through these two clear routes, TIFAM brings people together under a shared sporting structure devoted to traditional archery, education, safety, participation, and long-term development.

TIFAM serves, in respect of its affiliated clubs, as the national governing body for traditional archery in Ireland under affiliation with Traditional Archers International. Sporting regulations, competition rules, safety requirements, safeguarding policies, eligibility standards, disciplinary procedures, and codes of conduct are applied in accordance with the rules of Traditional Archers International.

Individual Membership

TIFAM welcomes individual members from across Ireland.

An archer may join TIFAM directly, regardless of club affiliation, association background, experience level, age, or stage of development. Direct membership gives each person a place within the national traditional archery movement, connecting independent archers, club members, beginners, experienced competitors, coaches, volunteers, researchers, and supporters.

Membership reflects TIFAM’s non-profit and community-based character. Annual, joining, and administrative membership fees carry a value of zero, allowing participation to grow through commitment, involvement, and shared responsibility.

Every individual member receives a voice within the foundation. Voting rights, participation in general meetings, access to TIFAM programmes, and involvement in the future direction of the organisation place archers at the centre of its governance.

Club Affiliation

Established archery clubs may apply to affiliate with TIFAM as complete clubs.

Affiliation allows clubs to retain their local identity while joining a national structure for traditional archery. Each affiliated club enters a wider community governed through agreed rules, recognised sporting standards, safeguarding duties, competition procedures, and shared educational aims.

Through affiliation, TIFAM may recognise, oversee, regulate, and govern participating clubs in its capacity as the national governing body for traditional archery in Ireland under Traditional Archers International.

Club affiliation strengthens cooperation between archers who may train in different places or come from different organisational traditions. Shared standards create trust. National recognition gives local work a wider reach. Common events allow clubs to meet through competition, learning, mentorship, and fellowship.

National Governance for Traditional Archery

Traditional archery carries its own knowledge, disciplines, equipment, history, customs, and forms of competition. TIFAM protects that identity while giving the sport a clear national structure.

Its governing responsibilities include the adoption and application of sporting regulations, competition rules, safety standards, safeguarding procedures, eligibility requirements, disciplinary processes, and codes of conduct. These duties are carried out in accordance with Traditional Archers International and in service of affiliated clubs and their members.

Through this role, TIFAM seeks to give traditional archery in Ireland a recognised voice, an organised competition pathway, consistent standards, accessible education, and a stable foundation for future growth.

Archery Education and Research Centre

TIFAM proudly operates the Archery Education and Research Centre as a central part of its purpose.

The Centre supports the study, teaching, preservation, and advancement of archery knowledge. Its work brings together practical instruction, coaching development, historical study, equipment research, sporting education, publication, documentation, and community learning.

Traditional archery carries knowledge through the hand: the shaping of the bow, the behaviour of timber, the setting of an arrow, the reading of distance, the discipline of stance, the control of breath, and the judgement required for safe shooting. The Centre gives that knowledge a permanent home where experience may pass between generations.

Research also protects the cultural memory of the sport. Historical bow forms, regional traditions, shooting practices, archival materials, technical developments, oral accounts, and educational resources may be studied, recorded, and shared through the Centre’s work.

Courses, workshops, lectures, coaching programmes, demonstrations, publications, and research projects allow archers to deepen their understanding while giving coaches, clubs, young people, and volunteers reliable educational support.

Developing the Traditional Archery Movement

TIFAM’s work begins with membership and affiliation, then grows through action.

National events bring archers together for competition, training, qualification shoots, cultural exchange, and community participation. Youth initiatives recognise effort, progress, sporting conduct, and achievement. Volunteer-led coaching opens the field to new participants. Shared facilities give clubs and individuals places to practise, learn, and meet.

The Multi-Association Archery Hub provides another meeting ground for training and development. Publications, including The Irish Field Archery Monthly, spread knowledge, record achievements, support clubs, and give Irish archery a public record.

Each programme serves a larger purpose: growing traditional archery as an organised, educated, inclusive, and nationally connected movement.

Our Four Pillars

Access opens traditional archery to individuals, families, young people, volunteers, independent archers, and clubs.

Equality gives every participant dignity, fair treatment, and an opportunity to contribute.

Education carries technical knowledge, safety, history, coaching, research, and sporting understanding from one generation to the next.

Development supports the progress of archers, coaches, clubs, officials, volunteers, facilities, competitions, and the wider national movement.

One Movement, Two Routes to Belonging

An individual may join TIFAM directly.

A whole club may enter through affiliation.

Both routes lead into one national traditional archery community guided by shared standards, education, responsible governance, and the sporting regulations of Traditional Archers International.

TIFAM exists to give traditional archery in Ireland structure, representation, knowledge, opportunity, and room to grow.