ROSSLARE SMALL BOATS FESTIVAL
Mike Thrussell Jnr reports back from Kilmore Quay on the other side of the Irish Sea where the 36th festival was another rip-roaring success
Today’s small boat angler is blessed with many festivals and competitions they can enter across the UK and Ireland: from small competitions run by a local club to nationwide events that attract big money sponsorship and some of boat angling’s top names. While these festivals often come and go, the one constant, and arguably the first of this type of small boat competition, has just completed its 36th festival. We are, of course, talking about the Rosslare Small Boats Festival.
FESTIVAL HISTORY
RSBF has run continuously from 1985 to the present day, barring two years when Covid-19 affected travel to Ireland. Originally based solely in the Irish port of Rosslare, in 1994 the organisers decided that Rosslare was no longer a suitable venue. They informed the competitors that from 1995 it would be run from Cork. Many of the original participants did not agree with this decision, deciding instead to take on the festival’s organisation. After five years, these organisers decided to step down, and new blood was introduced in the form of long-time competitors Phil Hallsworth and John Meaning. To further boost the festival, Irish angling legend Norman Dunlop was asked to come on board to assist along with Josie Mahon from the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, now part of Inland Fisheries Ireland.
One major decision from this reorganisation was to switch the festival from Rosslare to the fishing port of Kilmore Quay, some 20km southwest of Rosslare. Kilmore Quay offers a fantastic slipway that allows three boats to be launched at a time, plus there’s a well-equipped marina in which boats can moor. In addition to the top facilities on offer, Kilmore Quay is one of the premier sea angling destinations in Ireland, with a large charter boat fleet and some of the best species fishing available anywhere. It makes the ideal venue to host one of Europe’s most prestigious sea angling festivals.
After 12 years at the helm, Phil Hallsworth stepped down, and the baton was handed over to long-time competitor John Belger. John brought his own ideas to the table, forming a committee to help run the various aspects of the competition while continuing to build on Phil’s success. The 35th festival was John’s last festival as organiser. The baton was again handed on to another competitor, David Williams, who now heads up the festival.
RSBF has benefitted from extensive support from Inland Fisheries Ireland and its predecessor departments. Each year, Josie Mahon and Des Chew from IFI return to Rosslare to officiate and help organise th
