Killybegs Mariners S.A.C. charity fundraiser a great success

Enthusiastic members of the Killybegs Mariners S.A.C. (Sea Anglers Club) participating in a Beach Fishing Competition in aid of the good and new charity for Donegal to Galway cancer bus and the Bundoran RNLI.

The photo was taken on Saturday by keen eyed photographer Emer O'Shea on what was a very cold and overcast day at Rossnowlagh Beach.

Despite this, 70 anglers from near and far lined up on the day, in what a great day of activity after the slumbers of the Christmas period. 

The Charity Competition Fishing event went on from 11.30am to 3.30pm with registration having earlier taken place in the new carpark area behind the lifeguard station.

A prize-giving ceremony was held later in the afternoon in the Smugglers Creek. 

In a posting they said:

"Mariners charity beach competition was held on Saturday past on Rossnowlagh beach aiming to raise funds for the R.N.L.I lifeboat Bundoran and the good and new charity for Donegal to Galway cancer bus.
"The weather was against us over the Christmas as it blew a gale and we had to postpone a few days as Rossnowlagh would be the only beach big enough with ample parking and facilities for the amount of anglers coming to take part and Saturday the conditions were great for fishing as the wind fell and all the weed was in the zone we left free for the surfers.
"With just under 70 anglers from all over Ireland joining in thankfully all went very well although fish were scarce on the day but raising money and being able to enjoy a few hours fishing was the order of the day.
"After the event we assembled in the smugglers creek for the prize giving and there were loads of hampers, fishing tackle and spirits and vouchers in the raffle ensuring those that didn't catch anything had a chance of great prizes too.

Split into two zones of A and B there were some fine fish got all the same with longest flattie prize of a voucher in zone A of 37cm for John Shields.

Longest flattie in zone B a voucher was a 35cm flounder for Aaron Vambeck.
In the junior section 3rd overall was won by Ciaran Duddy winning a reel. 2nd overall was Paul O Keeney winning a rod and reel and in 1st place was Cormac Duddy winning a beach reel.
5th in zone A was Terry o Brien (voucher)
5th in Zone B was Michael Holdgate (voucher)
4th in zone A was Cormac Burke (voucher)
4th in zone B was Chris Whyte (voucher)
3rd in zone A was Dessie McGinley (headlight)
3rd in zone B was Colin Reilly (voucher)
2nd in zone A was Lee Mullan (kali kunnan rod)
2nd in zone B was Darren Griffen (slosh reel)
1st in zone A was John Shields (penn battle reel)
1st in Zone B was Dave Cherry (penn surfblaster reel)

"And overall winner well done to Nicholas McNeill with a great fishing on the day winning a Penn slammer reel.
Best club member winning the Mariners FishComm plaque and a voucher was Dessie McGinley.
So thats it for another year and huge thanks goes to all the sponsors who donated vouchers, tackle and hampers for prizes on the day and those that donated cash towards the chosen charities.

Also its very much appreciated all the angling community that travelled big distances to fish and raise money for those in need.

Also to the organising committee of John Cunningham, Noel Kennedy, Brian Smith, Cormac Burke and also Kieran McGowan for pegging, Dolores O'Neill doing the bucket collections and Dessie OKeeney and Mooney boats providing the van for registering.
Hopefully we raised plenty and when the final monies are all taken in we will announce it here later in the week hopefully.
Well done to all."