Bluebell 2026
Of all the many fine things regarding the Bluebell Shoot, the finest was that the format had been reset from the common mixed affair back to the unmarked and marked rounds. Why there are so many mixed rounds, I don’t…
Tag Traditional Archery
Archery Challenges – Week 1
Welcome to a new season of archery challenges! At Lough Cuan Bowmen, archers are engaging in a series of unconventional shooting challenges for prizes of myth. Each week – more or less – archers can endeavour to win an arrow…
A Lego Guide to 3D Archery
For those Unfamiliar with 3D Archery, or those who just like a bit of Lego:
Shamrock 2026
How did the shamrock come about as an Irish symbol? The fact that Ballyvally Archers’ Shamrock Shoot comes in March is rather apt, as it was Saint Patrick who taught of the Holy Trinity using a shamrock. And whilst this…
ETO 2027: Ireland Takes Aim
Last Christmas, we had the great pleasure of announcing that ETO 2027 is coming to Ireland—news that fills all of us with real excitement. Ireland now joins the wider TAI family with anticipation and hope, and with pride too: pride…
From Dongi Fires to Dongye Storms: Marking Korea’s Horizon
Wind travels down from Baekdu’s crater lake in thin blue bands, crosses volcanic scree, the larch forests, the rice fields, and enters the peninsula with a faint taste of stone and snow; along that wind, for millennia, arrows have flown.…
Zombie Huntin’ League
Whilst it is close to Halloween, I would remind the reader, and archer, that zombies, the undead, however you refer to them, are not a seasonal problem. Just as much as a dog is just not for Christmas, a zombie…
Choosing Your First Bow Guide
I came up with the idea to write this article after reading a message on the club’s chat—one of the fellow archers was curious about horse bows and asked for advice. I liked the brief exchange between him and one…
Bowhunters in the North
Once a year, Ballyvally Archers hosts a singular type of competition that exemplifies the enjoyment found in the sport: the Mulligan Hunting Trail. Whilst hunting Frank Mulligan is not the aim of the competition – and just as well as,…
Artistry In Arrows
For many of the past eleven years, I have been making my own arrows. This skill has developed little by little over time, as I read various articles, and listened to what other traditional archers had to say. Whilst it…
TIFAM issue 45 PDF
TIFAM 45 by TIFAM Company Limited by Guarantee...
Andrew’s 20 Questions #31 Emlyn Phipps
Hey there Emlyn and thanks for agreeing to do this interview and I have to say with great enthusiasm, as you’ve been the quickest to respond which is great and I know we have a lot in common and so…...
Colum Cille 3D 2025
I was excited to be back at Ballywalter for a couple of reasons, one of which was because of the new species of pheasant introduced to the estate. This species is known as Reeve’s Pheasant and comes from China. And…
Bluebell Shoot 2025
It is now summer, which in Ireland means the weather likes to behave in more of a bipolar manner. Summer in Ireland is different from the other two seasons – I’m convinced we don’t really get Spring, just a mildish…
The Case for Greater Archery
This is an updated version of an article I published a few years ago, about how badly the Olympics and World Archery need to diversify the representation of shooting styles. Given the inclusion of compound, I felt it was appropriate to not only republish it but update it too.
Archers Of Ennis (Onwards and upwards)
Introduction – who we are… We are a dedicated community built on shared passion, friendly competition, and a genuine love for the art of archery – Archers of Ennis isn’t just a place to hone our skills. It’s become the…
No Comfort Zone For Next 24 Targets
As the fictious, famed Chaos Theorist and open shirt enthusiast, Dr Ian Malcom, once said, “Hang on, this is going to be bad.” 3D Archery is not like Field Archery, and very far removed from Target Archery. Each of the…
Page turner picks (Column)
Making Wooden Arrows – A Master’s Guide By John Potter 2020 Edition/90 pages I believe the making of wooden arrows, and their pairing to the archer and the bow as one of the truest skills in archery. And sadly, one…
How Archers go blind…
They go blind, not suddenly, not dramatically, but like stone crumbling beneath ivy. A slow erosion hidden under the costume of stillness. Archers — who speak so often of form and silence, of the sacred breath before release — rarely…...
Blackbird Column
Hello Crackers, are you well? The year seems to be flying along briskly, leaving me more unorganised than usual, but here I am, straining the brain to write some words down to entertain. Easter is fast approaching also, so first…...