2nd TIFAM All Ireland Archery Festival

& Sunday Black Castle UAR shoot (A weekend of fun in Thurles)

Andrews account…

A fun weekend in the woods outside Thurles in the home of Black Castle Archers. The majority of the festival photos included in this issue were taken by the TIFAM crew of Matt, Chris and Andrew. The weather was very suitable to shooting arrows, mild and fine over the two days. Arriving on the friday evening it was great to see some campers already set up, David from NI and Marcin for example, and of course Sandra was upping the luxury scale as usual with her impressive RV already on site and sensibly parked. Black Castle had done a wonderful job and what is noticeable is their camaraderie and their efficiency at getting things done, albeit with no shortage of hints or reminders and of course the slagging. The way they erected their marquee was an example of this. Laura explained that a lot of things were down to a certain factor which we won’t elaborate on here but we at TIFAM are very appreciative of this. It was great to see that the caterer arrived to leave her wagon on site for Saturday. The menu looked delicious and her setup was very professional indeed. Unfortunately, some cattle had encroached on the base field the day before so there was an odd cow patch to avoid here and there but otherwise, the location was lovely and most notably natural. There was a clear sense that we were away from civilisation as anyone who has been to the Black Castle woods will be well aware that the trail to the shoot courses is quite far off the road along a grass-centered lane. There were very interesting ruins of a dwelling house and outbuildings which enhanced the remoteness of the location. A couple of us spoke about the beauty and wondered what it was like when the house was lived in and whether was it surrounded by more woodland or more fields back in the day? The present landowner lives nearby but the only hint of other life was the sounds of the dogs barking & the canine visits to the campsite over the weekend. Jasmine would have happily brought them home with her. That Friday night the skies were fantastically clear and laden with stars. Saturday morning although a bit foggy was fine and things commenced early with the placement of the various distance challenges, and thanks to Lazslo, who while away at European competition himself, had kindly organised the loaning of the Turkish Puta, Hungarian Mandola and the Mongolian Naadam wall targets as well as the wobbly platform. As archers arrived, so too did the friendly laidback atmosphere and there was no shortage of banter. Alas the archery supplies stalls were absent as their owners could not attend but Neil had a stall as did Stephen O’H and Andrew with archery items for sale. .Aislinn had her own stall too as did Olivia, Maya and co with their own interesting crafts and edibles including arrow pens & crocheted knitwear. The events took place without issue in a fun environment although I did have to head away to Dublin for a certain Ireland v England soccer match so missed Owen and Conors workshops, and didn’t get back till late where there were evidence of a recently ended camp gathering. James From the Blackbird podcast was also busy interviewing over the weekend. Sunday was the Black Castle UAR shoot and I must say, hats off to the host club for a wonderful shoot and my highlight was the Jurassic section especially the hugely impressive 3d werewolf, closely followed by the 3d scarecrow. So to sum up a weekend of fun, challenge and enjoyment with the pinnacle being the overall atmosphere,- the camaraderie, interactions and friendships.

TIFAM All Ireland Archery Festival: A Triumph Against the Odds

Dear readers,

We did it! The second edition of the TIFAM All Ireland Archery Festival was a success, even with a few unexpected twists and turns. Held in Thurles thanks to the wonderful Blackcastle Archers, this year’s festival had a slightly different feel. Due to venue constraints, we focused on registered archers, keeping the main celebrations a bit more intimate. While I missed having the wider public join in the fun, I’m determined to bring back that inclusive spirit next year. Truthfully, this year was a challenge. The entire festival was funded by the magazine’s limited resources, with no support from the County Council or Sports Partnership. Insurance alone was a hefty expense! But despite the logistical hurdles and tight budget, Saturday’s event was a triumph of community spirit and passion for archery. Two highlights truly stood out. First, the TIFAM Youth Merit Cup, the brainchild of our Chairperson Colleen Moore, recognized three outstanding young archers: Louise Cashman, Skarlett Playdon, and Isaac Addison. Their dedication to the sport is inspiring. Second, the raffle was a blast! With so many prizes donated by generous sponsors like Avalon Archery, Halfords Portlasoise, Amazon Ireland, Burren Archery, Bohning and others who wished to remain anonymous, the draw took nearly an hour. The looks of anticipation (and maybe a bit of boredom) on everyone’s faces were priceless! I extend my heartfelt thanks to the TIFAM YOUTH editors, especially Chris Ocampo, for their fantastic activities. Those hand-carved wooden pins were a hit! Neil Keeble’s Bohning booth and personal raffle showcased his dedication to reaching the 3D World Championships. And a huge shoutout to the Reynolds family and Carol McCauley for their invaluable help with the raffle. Looking ahead, I’m committed to refining the festival. We’re already searching for a permanent venue with better spectator access. We’re also exploring free tournament participation while keeping exciting elements like the Laszlo Challenge. Expect a greater focus on training, workshops, and informative exhibitions, building on Andrew Wayland fantastic historical display this year. I want next year’s festival to be even more educational and engaging. Think more workshops like those by Owen Reynolds and Conor Stokes – we need more of that captivating energy! Stay tuned for news on the next edition early next year. Until then, thank you for your unwavering support and for making this festival so special.