THE ANNUAL ROSSLARE SMALL BOAT FESTIVAL, AS IT IS NOW KNOWN, BEGAN LIFE IN 1985.
FROM THE VERY START IT WAS AS EXTREMELY POPULAR COMPETITION WITH ANGLERS FROM ALL OVER ENGLAND PARTICIPATING.

FOLLOWING THE 1994 COMPETITION, THE TENTH YEAR, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL ORGANISERS DECIDED THAT ROSSLARE WAS NO LONGER A SUITABLE VENUE, AND ADVERTISED THAT THE COMPETITION WOULD BE MOVED TO CORK.
THAT DECISION WAS NOT AGREED WITH BY MANY OF THE COMPETITORS AND THE OTHER ORGANISERS AND SO, IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, 1995, THE COMPETITION BECAME THE ROSSLARE SMALL BOAT COMPETITION.

FOLLOWING THE 2000 COMPETITION, THE ORGANISERS DECIDED NOT TO CONTINUE RUNNING THE EVENT.

IN 2001 THE COMPETITION BECAME KNOWN AS THE ANNUAL ROSSLARE SMALL BOAT FESTIVAL AND THE RUNNING OF IT WAS TAKEN OVER BY TWO ENGLISH COMPETITORS, PHIL HALLSWORTH AND JOHN MEANING.
THEY ALSO MANAGED TO PURSUED NORMAN DUNLOP FROM THE IRISH CENTRAL FISHERIES BOARD, AND JOSIE MAHON FROM THE EASTERN REGIONAL FISHERIES BOARD TO ASSIST. (SOMETHING THAT THEY BOTH STILL DO TO THIS DAY).

SINCE 2001 THE FESTIVAL HAS GROWN FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH, AND REGULARLY HAS A COMPETITORS LIST OF 30 TO 40 BOATS, WITH 80+ ANGLERS TAKING PART.

WE HAVE NOW ATTRACTED A NUMBER OF MAJOR SPONSORSHIP DEALS, INCLUDING DAIWA TACKLE MANUFACTURERS, NAVMAN MARINE ELECTRONICS, STENA LINE, SELF CATERING IRELAND, FAILTE IRELAND AND THE SUPPORT OF SEA ANGLER MAGAZINE.

THE FORMAT OF THE COMPETITION IS A TRIED AND TESTED, SUCCESSFUL FORMULA, WITH THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF FISH LOSS.

SINCE 2001 THE PRIZE TABLE FOR THE FESTIVAL HAS STEADILY RISEN.
IN 2009 THAT TABLE STOOD AT APPROXIMATELY£15,000 MADE UP OF CASH AND PRIZES.
(SEE THE 2009 BREAKDOWN OF PRIZES ON THIS WEB SITE)

THE ORGANISING AND PLANNING OF THE 2010 FESTIVAL IS WELL UNDER WAY.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE !!