Waterways Ireland operates a sponsorship programme with the aim of promoting recreation and increasing the number of people using the inland waterways under its remit.
I am informed that the call for applications to the 2010 sponsorship programme is now closed. The deadline for receipt of sponsorship applications was 17 December 2009. The programme was advertised in the local and national media in September 2009. Over 100 applications were received and I am advised that the assessment process is now almost complete.
The sponsorship programme has been very successful to date in attracting new users to the waterways and showcasing what the waterways have to offer.
Details of sponsorship funding in 2007, 2008 and 2009 are set out in the Table. Sponsorship amounts paid in sterling in Northern Ireland are shown as the equivalent euro amount.
2007
Sponsorship
|
€
|
Waterways Ireland Head of the River
|
1,028
|
WI Meridian Barefoot Waterski Challenge
|
3,631
|
Irish International Currach Championships
|
2,822
|
Irish Long Distance Swimming Championships
|
590
|
WI Erne World open Pike Fishing Classic
|
7,185
|
Autumn on Lough Erne
|
2,503
|
Portora Regatta
|
2,874
|
Waterways Ireland Schools League
|
1,653
|
Gig ’n’ the Bann Festival
|
1,221
|
Crom Medieval Affair
|
1,006
|
Tullamore Phoenix
|
1,500
|
Lough Key Triathlon
|
2,000
|
Royal Canal Western Rally
|
1,000
|
Royal Canal Mullingar Rally
|
1,000
|
Year of the Barrow
|
4,000
|
Carlow Regatta
|
1,000
|
Iniscealtra Arts Festival
|
2,000
|
IARU Row for it League
|
3,600
|
IARU Row for it League
|
5,400
|
Garadice Gamble
|
400
|
Castleconnell Sprint
|
1,000
|
Athy Water Festival
|
1,500
|
Limerick Regatta
|
1,000
|
Waterford & District Coarse Angling Competition
|
1,000
|
Boatman’s Reunion
|
1,995
|
An tSuca Fiáin
|
2,000
|
Royal Enfield Fishing
|
1,750
|
Athlone Regatta
|
1,000
|
Lough Ree Environmental Summer School
|
3,000
|
Grand Canal Offaly Voyage
|
8,000
|
Garadice Lake Triathlon
|
2,500
|
Carrick Water Music Festival
|
3,500
|
Royal Canal Western Rally
|
1,000
|
12th Lock Fishing Competition
|
3,400
|
Shannonbridge Midsummer Festival
|
4,000
|
Daingean Festival
|
3,000
|
Carrick on Shannon Regatta
|
1,000
|
Bagenalstown Festival
|
4,000
|
Graiguenamanagh River Festival
|
2,000
|
|
93,060
|
2008
Sponsorship
|
€
|
Tasting Sessions
|
1,000
|
Outrowers Ireland
|
3,000
|
Iniscealtra Arts Festival
|
2,000
|
Bann Head of the River
|
700
|
IARU Row for It
|
17,900
|
Crom Living History / Have a Go
|
631
|
Waterways Ireland MacGregor Rally
|
2,000
|
Irish Long Distance Swimming
|
499
|
Erne World Pike Fishing
|
6,358
|
Erne Junior Pike Fishing
|
1,300
|
Schools Angling League
|
1,464
|
Boatmans Reunion
|
1,987
|
Lisnaskea Water Festival
|
3,783
|
An tSuca Fiáin
|
2,000
|
Lough Ree Environmental Summer School
|
2,000
|
Grand Canal Offaly Voyage
|
8,000
|
Shannonbridge Music Festival
|
3,000
|
Daingean Festival
|
2,000
|
Fermanagh Arts Festival
|
5,087
|
Waterways Ireland Pike Challenge
|
7,000
|
Gransha Youth Club for Water
|
873
|
|
72,584
|
2009
Sponsorship
|
€
|
The Bagenalstown Festival
|
2,500
|
Graiguenamanagh River Festival
|
2,000
|
Rowing for Life
|
500
|
All Ireland Championship
|
1,000
|
NCFFI Senior Canal Championship
|
1,000
|
NCFFI Junior Canal Championship
|
750
|
2nd Annual Irish Gay Rowing Competition
|
2,250
|
Iniscealtra Festival of Arts
|
750
|
St Michael’s Head of the River
|
700
|
Erne Head of River
|
700
|
Portora Regatta
|
1,000
|
Carlow Regatta
|
1,750
|
Castleconnell Sprint Regatta
|
1,000
|
Carrick on Shannon Sprint Regatta
|
1,750
|
Athlone Regatta
|
1,000
|
Waterways Row4lt League
|
6,000
|
Waterways Ireland Erne World Pike Fishing Classic
|
4,912
|
Irish Long Distance Swimming Championship
|
348
|
Waterways Junior Classic
|
1,168
|
Waterways Ireland Erne Junior Pike Fishing Classic
|
1,168
|
Boatmen’s Reunion
|
5,000
|
Lisnaskea Water Festival
|
4,066
|
An tSuca Fiáin
|
1,500
|
Royal Enfield International Fishing Festival
|
500
|
Lough Ree Water Festival
|
3,500
|
Canal Fishing Daingean
|
500
|
The Daingean Festival
|
1,500
|
The Barrow Wildwater Race
|
1,350
|
Past V Present Anglers
|
150
|
The 23rd Kildare Sallins Raft Race
|
500
|
King of the Barrow
|
400
|
Edenderry Canal Festival
|
250
|
Waterways Extravaganza
|
1,637
|
TriAthy 2009
|
5,000
|
Lady of the Erne
|
3,500
|
Lucan Fishing Competition
|
2,800
|
Sponsorship support for Ulster Canal
|
4,006
|
|
68,407
|