Activity Clubs

New Clubs  needed in our Regions

See the latest information from the Hobbies Secretary on the great financial support package now available for any new Club formed:
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Welcome to the Hobbies & Technology Page

Noel B Geary
National Hobbies Secretary

The IPA Section Ireland promotes a wide range of Hobbies and technology subjects

National Hobbies Secretary   
A list of Hobbies which you could consider establishing in your Region  

List of Current Hobbies

• Radio, Computer and Camcorder Club (more information below)

• Hill Walking Club

• Motor Cycle Club (more information below)

• Insignia Collecting

• PC Courses

• Video Editing Course

• Camcorder Course

• Morse Key Course

• Music Ballad Group

• IPA Wine Appreciation Society - contact  Tony O Halloran ohalloranba@eircom.net  

• IPA Courses

Efforts are being made to establish:

• Fishing Club (information on Angling below)

• Model Aero Club

• An IPA Garda Sailing Club
   

Hobbies/Technology pastimes and Clubs are currently being enjoyed by IPA members nationwide. These activities include:- Ham Radio, PC internet, Motor Cycle Club, Hill Walking Club, Ballad group, Insignia Collecting, Video Editing and camcorder use etc.

Technology: The Hobbies Secretary is responsible for all IPA Technology  and will be happy to give advice to IPA Members on any aspect of modern Technology including IT, Radio/Telephone Systems and Audio/Video equipment. Anyone interested in availing of any of the above Activities/Facilities should contact the Hobbies Secretary. IPA members in this Section benefit from the many activities/competitions that are organised and run by Section Ireland, including Video making, Painting & Photography events.

A Video Competition is currently underway with prizes totalling almost E2,000 being offered. To take part in this competition,  send your entry to 13,Iona Drive, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, marked Video Competition. Videos can be submitted in any  format and on any subject and can be up to 15 minutes long. Closing date for this competition is 31st March 2008. 
Videos will be judged on content and technical merit including visual impact, sound quality, special effects and editing.

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!!!!!NOW IS THE TIME TO ESTABLISH THAT NEW CLUB IN YOUR REGION!!!!!!

E 2,000 Grant for establishing New Club  

·      Yes the National Executive will provide up to  E2,000 per annum to any IPA members who undertake to establish an IPA club in their Region.

 ·      Contact the Hobbies Secretary

Noel Geary ph.086-2329970 or

gearyn@iol.ie

A List of Hobbies which could benefit from having an IPA National Club - consider establishing one in your Region

IPA CLUBS

The IPA National Executive provides financial support of E2,000 per annum to any IPA Club established by a Member in accordance with Section’s set criteria for Club Formation. If you have the vision and the enthusiasm to get a Club off the ground, contact The Hobbies Secretary for full details of this very generous scheme which is available to IPA MEMBERS. If you are not already an IPA member, JOIN NOW, become one and avail of this offer.

 Examples of such activities, any one of which you could consider establishing are:-

Any member wishing to pursue the establishment of a Club on any of the above Activities or indeed any Activity of interest not listed above should contact the National Hobbies and Technology Secretary where a copy of the Criteria for Grant Aid will be forwarded.

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Radio, Computer & Camcorder Club (1997)

Video
A high quality video recorder is available to Regions and Branches to record events of IPA and police interest.

Ham Radio
The Amateur Radio and Computer Club (1997) has been defined as
"A service of self training as inter-communication and technical investigation carried out by amateurs who are duly authorised persons interested in radio techniques as a personal aim, without pecuniary interests."
The members' aims may be summarised as furthering world peace and friendship.  The Association has over 1,000 members registered to the world-wide IPA Amateur Radio Club - colloquially referred to as "Ham Radio".  The Ireland Club has members of all ages, both serving and retired, throughout the Section.
In order to operate an amateur radio station, a licence must be obtained from the Department of Communications.  Applicants must pass an examination in basic radio techniques and Regulations governing "Ham" radio broadcasting.  On qualifying the student may operate on VHF and higher frequencies.  A Morse code standard of twelve words per minute must be attained.
Members of the IPA Ireland Club meet every Thursday at 20.00 hours on the 11.770 Mhz band.
The Dublin Club meet at IPA House, 13 Iona Drive, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, on the 144.550 or 144.525 Mhz FM.

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IPA Garda Motor Cycle Club (1999)

The IPA GMC was established in 1999.  The club was the brainchild of IPA member Seamus McBride of Tir Chonaill Branch, a motorcyle enthusiast who in the Spring of 1999 gathered together like minded members in Donegal and called a meeting to see what could be done.

He was assisted in the task by another IPA member, Frank Togher and supported by the 1st Vice President of the Association at the time, Joe Lynch who proposed that the IPA National Executive Committee endorse the club as a National IPA Club within this Section.  The club was endorsed by unanimous decision of the IPA National Executive Committee and was formally launched as the IPA GMC at the 1999 IPA National Council in Kildare in May 1999.

Since then the Club has grown from strength to strength and is now firmly established throughout the Section with active members, North, South, East and West.

www.ipagmc.com

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Angling in Ireland

History of Angling
Fishing is as old as the pyramids and perhaps older.  2000 BC an artist depicted an angling scene in Egypt.  Paleolithic man drew fishing scenes on the walls of his cave.  Chinese literature of 1500 BC described fishing using the silk of cocoons for lines and sharpened irons for hooks.  The art or science of catching fish for food has a respectable history going back to the beginning of time.  The legendary warrior, Fionn Mac Cumhaill, gained his unprecedented wisdom through inadvertently tasting the Salmon of Knowledge.  Thereafter he had only to suck his thumb to find the answer to the most complex problems or to extricate himself from impossible positions.  The mere act of fishing has a similar effect.

Joys of Angling
Thousands of people get a world of satisfaction and enjoyment from fishing.  Angling is a state of mind and a healthy past-time which gets its follower out of doors whether on river, lake or deep sea and far away from the poisoned fumes and noises of the rat race.  From the joys of being afloat or standing knee-deep in crystal waters lapping or rippling on rocky or sandy shores, to the thrill of putting human skills to enticing and separating a game fish from its natural environment, dispels everyday cares, worries and tensions, replacing them with utter tranquility.

Angling in Ireland
Ireland is one of the top class angling countries of Europe because it offers such a wide range of angling to beginners and experts and all a short distance from one another.  The lakes and rivers and even the seas are steeped in history and folklore and set in scenery unsurpassed anywhere.  An ambudance of wild Atlantic Salmon, migratory sea trout and wild brown trout can be fished in unspoiled waters of Ireland. A lot of valuable time can be saved by visitors and natives alike with the help of an experienced angler most of whom are willing to impart their knowledge and point the learner in the right direction.
The french call salmon, saumon; sea trout, truit de mer and brown trout, truite.
German anglers use the terms Lachs, Meerofella and Lachs Forelle.
The equivalent terms in Gaelic are bradan, breac geal and breac but the English terms are in general use.

Fisheries
Irish fishing waters come under four categories: free, private, club or state owned.  Fishing is free in many rivers and lakes including the larger lakes like the mighty Lough Corrib in Galway, the magnificent Loughs Conn and Mask in Mayo and Sheelin in Cavan.  The beautiful middle and lower Lakes of Killarney and Lough Currane in Kerry voted by anglers to be the best salmon and sea trout lake in Europe.

Permits
A day permit is required to fish waters classified as private, club or association or state owned.  Such permits can be obtained from the owners, secretaries or managers of the fishery.  Weekly permits can be had at reduced rates.  In addition, a state licence is required to fish for salmon and sea trout.  Anglers may fish from river banks, shores of lakes or from open boats; this would permit wading into a lake, standing on rocks, piers or headlands or manmade fishing stands.  Lake boats are always available and are regarded as the safest, most enjoyable and productive manner of fishing.   Inexperienced anglers are advised to engage an experienced boatman.  Two anglers are permitted per boat.

Salmon Fishing
Fish for Spring salmon, Summer salmon (grilse) or migratory sea trout is prohibited unless to holders of a salmon rod and line licence which can be obtained from officers of Regional Fishery Board, fishing tackle stores, hotels, guest houses or other nominated licence distributors.  Enquiries should be made to a Regional Fishery Board.  A licence is not required for brown trout, course or sea fishing.

IPA Courses

IPA Ireland provides many Free Courses  for our members. These are financed, organised and run through the Hobbies Secretary's Office and include courses on Camcorder use and Technique, Video editing, Personal Computer and Internet use.

All the above Hobbies and Activities are Free to  IPA Members and their spouses so if you are not a member join now for less than E 1 per week

Click for   Membership Application Form: (Serving), (Retired);

 then print and post to IPA Office, 13 Iona Dr., Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

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