Ireland's largest clay target shooting competition to be held this weekend

IRELAND'S largest clay target shooting competition will be taking place in The National Shooting grounds Esker outside Banagher over next weekend, July 15th and 16th.

The event will see approximately 850 participants take part in the competitions, a culmination of clay target competitions that have been happening at parish and county level over the year.

The following are the key events over the two days:

Saturday July 15th

County Team, U-21, Ladies and Trainee License holder competition.

Sunday July 16th

National Club Competition, Veteran, Super Veteran, Side by Side Shotgun.

The NARGC has 26,000 members in 1,050 Clubs spread throughout the country – one Club in almost every parish. It has enjoyed an increasing membership year on year for the past ten years with an average increase of 500 per annum. It is also a Seanad Nominating Body. The Association co-ordinates the activities of its members and clubs through a regional structure comprising 28 regions. The NARCC also represents the interests of all its members at both a national and international level.

Since its establishment in 1968, the Association has been instrumental in the development of significant beneficial legislation since that time. Of particular note was The Wildlife Act 1976, The Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, The Firearms Non-Residents Act 2000 etc. The NARGC has been to the forefront in leading challenges through the Courts against misuse and abuses of Ireland’s environmental and shooting legislation.

The NARGC is at the forefront of conservation projects in Ireland with regional projects on the introduction of native grey partridge to suitable habitat, grouse projects that have received international recognition. They work with farmers around the provision of wild bird cover mixes and game crop and their most recent habitat improvements around duck nesting with the provision of nest tubes have been recognised locally and nationally. Key to the success of projects is:

• The provision of suitable habitat

• Control of predator species

The NARGC advocates for sustainable hunting of game species in the natural environment and believes that conservation and hunting go hand in hand. They believe that education around these topics instills responsibility, ethical behaviour, improves skills and knowledge, and encourages the involvement of beginner and veteran hunters alike.