History of Howth Sea Angling Club
Howth Sea Angling Club was formed in 1970 and since then, it has developed into one of the foremost Angling Clubs in Ireland. The first meeting took place in the Royal Hotel (Bailey Court Hotel) on February 13th 1970. Since then meetings have been held on a monthly basis in such venues as The Camelot, The Grove, The Asgard, The Summit, The Pier House, and The Deer Park. It was in the late seventies that the idea of an Angling Centre as a home for the club was first mooted. Under the chairmanship of MichaelO'Leary a series of fundraising campaigns, including race nights, Lotto, American nights, Christmas fairs, auctions and our biggest regular fundraiser, The Howth Strawberry Fair, were organised.
The club is indebted, also, to such business's as Chadwicks, Pharmacare, Cantrell and Cochrane, Wella, Green Isle and Abbey Life who generously supported, through sponsorship, our competitions, boat and shore. The competitions organised by the club were the Howth Open which was held during Howth festival week and the Rush Open but the competition most synonomous with the club, was the Midsummer Nights Madness, a beach competition, held on the Saturday nearest to the 21st of June each year. Through the good offices of of FAS the members dream of having their own Angling Centre, became a reality with the official opening by Minister Michael Woods in 1993. The centre is a monument to the progressive thinking, ceaseless determination and countless hours of hard work by successive committee and members of the club.
Michael O'Leary, First President of Howth S.A.C.
Michael is a founder member of the club and has served the club at every committee position. Michael, a keen boat and shore angler, was the driving force behind the club acquiring it's first boat, he does admit that it later sank, but it was a start. Not content with just fishing, Michael realised early on that the only real way forward was for the club to have it's own boats and eventually it's own clubhouse, an idea that not many took seriously but with dedication and determination and surrounded by like minded anglers who were just as determined the plan became reality. The recently reintroduced Summer Fair has become Michael's pet project, fundraising is still an important part in securing the finances necessary to maintain the Angling Centre for anglers.
Peter Gaffey, President of Howth S.A.C.
A founder member of the club, Peter is also an honorary life member and was the unanimous choice to follow Michael O'Leary in the role of President. A dedicated angler, capable of holding his own against the best, Peter has represented the club at the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers Master Angler Competition on many occasions. He has fished rivers, lakes, streams and the seashores in Ireland and abroad, from Florida to Cuba to Porto Rico but especially prefers the big cod in the fjords of Norway. Peter has served as Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Recorder and again like Michael, in every position in the club has to offer. Peter is also active at National level where he serves on the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers Central Council and has a seat on the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board.
